Without baffles blinders that prevent outside air from crossing over the vent a ridge vent may create almost no ventilation at all.
No vent in attic.
The design of many older houses omits eaves which maximizes the amount of sunlight.
Static roof line vents are effective for ventilation but generally aren t recommended due to issues with leaks.
The most common way to add ventilation to an attic is by installing air intakes in the soffits and putting an outlet at the gable of the house.
Gable vents may circulate air through only a small percentage of your attic.
Problems when roof has no overhang.
Typically you would have a gable vent on each end of the attic.
This is called passive ventilation.
Normal vented air likes to enter the attic lower down near the bottom third of the attic and as it passes through it will exit higher up near the top third of the attic space.
Too often mechanical ventilation ducts from bathrooms kitchens or laundry rooms deposit warm moist air into the attic instead of outside the building envelope.
For an attic without soffit vents you may have the option to use gable vents instead.
This creates a natural air flow by drawing in the air from outside pushing it up and out through the vent at the top of the house.
A combination of air sealing and insulating the attic floor while providing ventilation considerably reduces the potential for condensation as warm moist air is less likely to enter the space and condense on cold surfaces.
How to vent an attic with no eaves the function of soffit vents.
For proper ventilation it isn t enough for air to simply get into your attic.