What is the best ridge vent for wind-driven rain?
Short answer. The best ridge vent for wind-driven rain has an external baffle, an internal weather filter, and documented testing for wind-driven rain, such as the Florida TAS 100(A) protocol many vents are tested to. Installation matters just as much: the slot must stop short of the ends, the end plugs must be in place, and the cap shingles must be nailed and sealed properly.
Product features that block driven rain
- External baffle: the raised edge that deflects wind up and over the vent. It also creates suction that pulls air out rather than forcing rain in.
- Internal filter: a fabric or mesh layer that catches droplets that make it past the baffle.
- Tested performance: manufacturers who have tested a vent for wind-driven rain say so in their literature, often citing the Florida protocol. A vent with no stated testing is a guess.
- End closures: molded end plugs that seal the open ends at gables.
Installation is half the battle
- Stop the slot about 6 inches from gable ends and further back from walls and chimneys, per the instructions, because the ends take the most wind.
- Cut the slot no wider than specified, so the vent fully covers it.
- Use nails long enough to reach through the deck so cap shingles do not lift.
- Do not mix in other exhaust vents, which can reverse the flow and pull rain in through the ridge.
Where it matters most in Georgia
Exposed ridges on hilltops in the North Georgia mountains, open lots near Lake Lanier and other big lakes, and houses in the path of strong summer thunderstorms see the hardest sideways rain. If you have seen water stains along the top of an interior wall or at the peak after storms, the ridge is a prime suspect. See wind damage to roofs in Georgia and common roof leak causes.