Which is best, Whirlybird or Solar Vent?

Whirlybirds are a common form of roof ventilation because they’re cheap, easy to install and you can effectively “set it and forget it”. If you have an adequate number of whirlybirds (one or two won’t be effective unless your home is very small), they may provide an appropriate amount of ventilating and cooling. But if energy efficiency is important to you, we highly recommend considering a solar vent.

For one, whirlybirds remove precious heat during the winter, leaving your home colder, which leads to higher heating costs. Furthermore, they are very inefficient at cooling your home during the summer if it’s not consistently windy. This is especially true in hot and dry climates. This is why it’s more sensible and practical to consider a thermostatically-controlled Solar Roof Exhaust Vent.

A Solar Roof Exhaust Vent contains a small solar panels which powers an exhaust fan inside the frame. It comes with a functioning thermostat and will only function when internal roof temperatures rise above 25 degrees Celsius, so it’s only working when you actually need it to. Our recommended unit also comes with a rechargeable lithium battery which will continue operating the fan for up to four hours even when the solar collector is not receiving direct sunlight (provided the internal roof temperature is still high enough for the Solar Roof Exhaust Vent to be turned on). The next time the solar panels receive direct sunlight, the batteries will be automatically recharged.

A Solar Roof Exhaust Vent does the same job as a whirlybird, but better. It provides ventilation which prevents the accumulation of condensation and moisture, which can severely damage your roof and shingles. Believe it or not, a single Solar Roof Exhaust Vent removes as much hot air as 10 whirlybirds. They’re also quieter than whirlybirds, and operate all-year round. Although they don’t work at night due to the lack of sunlight, this is typically a non-issue because they’re most needed during the day when the sunrays are heating up your roof and attic.

For optimal performance, we recommend installing a Solar Roof Vent at the highest point of your roof. 

Before you start your roof replacement project, be sure to discuss insulation and ventilation options, and for expert advice, ask the team at Roof & Render SA. 

Contact us to learn more about pricing, installation and other considerations to provide the most energy-efficient ventilation option for your home.