I get what you’re saying about baffles being a pain to install, especially in older houses with weird framing. But I’d push back a bit on the dust concern—unless you’ve got major gaps or a super dusty attic, a thin layer probably won’t impact airflow much for years. I’ve had mine in for five winters (1972 colonial, northeast climate) and haven’t noticed any blockages yet. Honestly, the bigger headache for me was tracking down all the little air leaks around plumbing stacks and light fixtures. Once those were sealed, the baffles and venting actually seemed to make a noticeable difference with ice dams. Maybe it’s just luck, but I’d take that over another round of heat cables any day.
Couldn’t agree more about the air leaks—those are the real troublemakers.
I see so many folks skip that step and then wonder why their venting isn’t working. Baffles can be a pain, but once you’ve got the airflow sorted and leaks sealed, you’re way ahead of anyone just throwing heat cables on year after year. Ice dams are pretty much a thing of the past if you stick with it.the bigger headache for me was tracking down all the little air leaks around plumbing stacks and light fixtures
That’s the truth—those little leaks are sneaky. I spent a whole weekend with a can of spray foam crawling around the attic, and I still missed a couple spots by the bathroom vent. It’s wild how much difference it makes once you get those sealed up though. Heat cables just felt like putting a band-aid on it for me... plus my electric bill hated it. Haven’t had a major ice dam since I went after all those gaps, knock on wood.
- Totally agree, sealing up those attic leaks is way more effective than just slapping on heat cables.
- I tried heat tape one winter—my bill went up and the ice dams barely budged. Not worth it for me.
- Did a round of caulking and foam last fall, especially around the bathroom fan and chimney. Noticed my upstairs felt warmer too, so that was a bonus.
- One thing I’d add: check your soffit vents while you’re at it. Mine were half-blocked with old insulation, so air wasn’t moving right. Cleared them out and it helped a lot with moisture too.
- I’m not convinced every little gap needs to be perfect, but getting the big ones made a noticeable difference here (northern Minnesota, lots of snow).
- Insulation’s expensive, but patching leaks is cheap if you’re willing to crawl around up there... just watch your head on those rafters.
All in all, I’d rather spend a weekend with a can of foam than pay for extra electricity every month or deal with water stains on the ceiling again.
- Totally with you on sealing leaks first—way more bang for your buck than heat cables.
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Couldn’t agree more. I spent a Saturday with a headlamp and a can of foam, and my heating bill dropped noticeably.“Insulation’s expensive, but patching leaks is cheap if you’re willing to crawl around up there...”
- If you ever redo your roof, consider lighter shingles or even a green roof layer. They shed snow better and keep the attic cooler, which helps prevent those ice dams in the first place.
- Ventilation’s huge too. I thought my vents were fine until I poked around—turns out they were half-blocked by old bird nests. Cleared them out and the attic felt less stuffy right away.
- Not every gap needs to be perfect, but getting the big ones really does make a difference... especially up here where winter just drags on.
