The soffit vents allow convective air movement from the soffits of the residence to the ridge vent.
How to ventilate attic soffits.
An attic s intake vents are most commonly installed directly in the soffit either as individual vents spaced every few feet or as one continuous perforated soffit running the entire length of.
For an attic without soffit vents you may have the option to use gable vents instead.
The soffit vents are now installed but you still need to make sure there s no insulation blocking the new vents.
The main idea of the ridge vent is to act together with soffit venting to properly ventilate the attic.
Typically you would have a gable vent on each end of the attic.
If the attic is insulated with fiberglass batts just pull back any that are blocking the flow of air.
Air flows in through the soffit vents and out through the roof vents.
When hot air rises up through the soffit venting it then keeps rising all the way up to the ridge vent.
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.
Vents come in various styles.
Grab a flashlight and inspect your attic during the winter.