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.
For an attic without soffit vents you may have the option to use gable vents instead.
The design of many older houses omits eaves which maximizes the amount of sunlight.
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.
Typically you would have a gable vent on each end of the attic.
Static roof line vents are effective for ventilation but generally aren t recommended due to issues with leaks.
Problems when roof has no overhang.
If you re wondering how studor vents work after the toilet is flushed the water flows down the drain resulting in negative pressure.
This negative pressure causes the vent to open and let in enough air to relieve the pressure.
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.
This is called passive ventilation.
For proper ventilation it isn t enough for air to simply get into your attic.
Gable vents may circulate air through only a small percentage of your attic.
Too often mechanical ventilation ducts from bathrooms kitchens or laundry rooms deposit warm moist air into the attic instead of outside the building envelope.
How to vent an attic with no eaves the function of soffit vents.