Had a similar experience myself—installed a powered attic fan thinking it'd be a game changer, but honestly didn't notice much difference either. Ended up improving my soffit vents and ridge vent combo, and that seemed to help way more. Guess every house really is different...
Went through something similar last summer—thought a powered attic fan would solve my heat issues, but nope, barely made a dent. Ended up sealing air leaks and beefing up insulation instead... way more noticeable improvement. Guess ventilation isn't always the main culprit.
Interesting observation about the attic fan. I've seen plenty of cases where homeowners assume ventilation is the main issue, but often insulation and air sealing play a much bigger role. Heat transfer isn't just about hot air escaping—it's also about preventing heat from entering your living space in the first place. Did you find any specific areas that were especially problematic for air leaks? I've noticed recessed lighting and attic hatches tend to be common culprits...
You're spot on about recessed lights—I've seen some real horror stories there. Another sneaky spot is around plumbing vents and chimney chases. People rarely think to seal those gaps, but they can let in a surprising amount of heat...worth checking out if you haven't already.
Yeah, plumbing vents can definitely sneak up on you. Last summer, we had tenants complaining about rooms staying hot even with AC blasting. Turns out there was a big gap around one of the vent stacks letting heat pour in...never would've guessed that one.
