Not reliably. FEMA says turbines, ridge vents and off-ridge vents are often poorly attached and can bend or dislodge in a hurricane, letting wind-driven rain into the house. Even high wind-rated turbines can spin past their design speed and be damaged by debris. Securing, plugging or replacing them lowers the risk.
A turbine vent is a moving part on top of a hole in your roof. Here is what FEMA says goes wrong in a hurricane, and what your options are.
A turbine vent, also called a whirlybird, is a wind-spun metal ball on a short pipe through your roof. As it spins, it pulls hot, damp air out of the attic.
FEMA, the federal emergency management agency, describes turbines as vents that use wind power to pull humid air out of attic spaces, mounted on top of short standpipes. A standpipe is the short pipe that runs from the attic up through a hole in the roof. The spinning head sits on top. You see them on many Florida homes, usually a few spaced along the roof.
They do a real job. ARMA, the trade group for asphalt shingle makers, says attics need ventilation because heat and moisture shorten the life of the roof, the deck and the wood under it. A turbine is one way to get exhaust air out. FEMA lists it alongside soffit vents, ridge vents, gable-end vents and off-ridge vents. Our attic ventilation guide explains how all of them fit together.
The problem is hurricanes. A turbine is a moving part sitting on top of a hole in your roof, in hurricane country. That is why FEMA singles it out, and why this guide covers what the agency says to do about it.
Josh reviews every job, and a roof inspection ends with a written photo report. It shows your turbine heads, vents and the shingles around them, and Coastline does roof repairs and temporary tarps if one needs attention. Coastline Roofing works all over Florida (license CCC1331076).
FEMA's roof fact sheet points to four problems, and any one can open a hole in the roof.
FEMA says ridge vents, off-ridge vents and turbines often are poorly attached to the roof and can bend or dislodge in hurricanes. Once one gives way, wind-driven rain can enter the building.
FEMA says even high wind-rated turbines will rotate at above-design speeds. A part that spins too fast can wear out, wobble or shake loose.
FEMA says even high wind-rated turbines can be damaged easily by wind-borne debris, such as branches and loose roofing.
If the head tears off, the standpipe stays, and it is an opening into the attic. That is why FEMA suggests plugging the top of the pipe when a storm is coming.
FEMA offers three paths for turbines. Anchor them better, take the head off and plug the pipe before a storm, or replace them with a vent type built to resist wind and rain.
| Option | What it involves | Best fit | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secure it | Anchor the turbine to the roof sheathing and framing with straps. Connect the head to the standpipe with sheet metal screws. | A turbine in good shape that you want to keep | FEMA says even a secured, high wind-rated turbine can be damaged by flying debris |
| Remove the head and plug the pipe before a storm | Take the turbine head off ahead of a hurricane and plug the top of the standpipe to keep rain out. | A homeowner who can do it before every storm | It only helps if it is done in time, every time |
| Replace it | Swap it for a ridge vent or an off-ridge vent. FEMA suggests ridge vents that passed Florida's TAS 100(A) wind and wind-driven rain test. | A turbine that wobbles, squeaks, leaks or is old | The roof's total vent area still has to be enough and balanced |
One thing to know before you pick. Taking a turbine away removes exhaust, and the attic still has to breathe. ARMA recommends a balanced system, with about 50 to 60 percent of the vent area at the soffit and the rest at or near the ridge. NRCA, the national roofing contractors group, suggests about half of the vent area at or near the ridge. So a replacement plan should say how much vent area the new setup has, not just which vent goes where.
Some homeowners also ask about a solar attic fan in place of a turbine. It can work, but it is another roof opening. Our guide are solar attic fans worth it goes through the trade-offs.
A roofer counts your vent area, picks the new vent, removes the turbine and pipe, checks the deck, and fastens the new vent so it stays put in wind.
Note every turbine, ridge vent and soffit vent, and the attic floor area. This tells you how much exhaust the new vent has to replace.
FEMA lists ridge vents and off-ridge vents as the roof-top options. For ridge vents it suggests ones that passed Florida's TAS 100(A) test for wind and wind-driven rain.
The old pipe leaves a hole in the roof deck, the wood under the shingles. The roofer looks at the wood around it for stains or soft spots and repairs it as needed.
The opening is closed and the new vent is flashed into the shingles so water runs over it, not into it.
For ridge vents, FEMA recommends gasketed stainless steel wood screws in place of ordinary roofing nails. For off-ridge vents, it says to check the existing connectors, consider covers installed from inside the attic, and avoid adding nails or screws that can damage the roof covering.
Vents are one weak spot. FEMA says a roof should be inspected at least twice a year, in spring and fall, and after high wind events, with repairs done quickly.
Josh reviews every job, and an inspection ends with a written photo report. The photos show your turbine heads, standpipes and the shingles around them, so you can see what is loose before hurricane season. Our hurricane roof prep guide lists other checks worth doing early.
Look for a missing head, a wobble, a bent pipe or stains below it. A stain near a vent may be rain that blew in through the vent, not through the shingles.
FEMA says damaged or dislodged vents let wind-driven rain into the building. After a storm, check from the ground first, and use your phone's zoom rather than climbing a wet roof.
If you see one of these, cover it fast. FEMA's Hurricane Charley advisory describes the underlayment under the shingles as a backup water barrier, and says one common option is meant for homes where repairs happen within several days after the roof covering blows off. A temporary repair or tarp covers the gap until the right repair can be made, and Coastline does both, including emergency tarping. Our guides on stopping a roof leak until help arrives and hidden storm damage explain what to do while you wait. Whether your policy pays for any of it is between you and your insurer.
If the leak is near a plumbing pipe instead of a turbine, see roof leaking around a vent pipe. For our storm repair work, see storm damage repair.
"Josh was especially amazing. He was professional, patient, and took the time to explain everything clearly so I felt comfortable and informed throughout the entire process. You can tell he genuinely cares about his customers and takes pride in his work."Madison T.Roofing customer
"Good communication and did a great job."Rick R.Roofing customer, Florida Gulf Coast
"Highly recommend. Great communication. Great quality of work and very personable. Easy to work with. Will use again for home renovations."Justin S.Roofing customer, Florida Gulf Coast
FEMA suggests considering it: remove the turbine head before a hurricane and plug the top of the standpipe to keep rain out. It only helps if it gets done before every storm, so some homeowners prefer to replace the turbine with a vent type built for high wind and rain.
FEMA lists ridge vents and off-ridge vents. For ridge vents it suggests ones that passed Florida's TAS 100(A) test for wind and wind-driven rain, and gasketed stainless steel wood screws instead of ordinary roofing nails. The roof's total vent area still has to be enough and balanced.
It can if nothing takes its place. ARMA recommends a balanced system, and NRCA suggests about half of the vent area at or near the ridge. Before removing one, count your vent area and plan the exhaust that replaces it.
Either one. FEMA says a damaged or dislodged vent lets wind-driven rain enter, and shingles around it can lift too. A written photo report shows the vent, the standpipe and the shingles together, so the repair targets the real cause.
FEMA says to inspect a roof at least twice a year, usually spring and fall, and after high wind events, and to complete repairs quickly. In Florida, spring before hurricane season and fall after it are sensible times.
Josh reviews every job, and you get a written photo report of your vents, shingles and anything loose. Call or text and we will set a time.
Leave your name and number. We typically call back the same day during business hours. Consent to texts is not required.
