Nailed it with the “raincoat over a sieve” bit—been there, done that. I once spent an afternoon hunting a draft that turned out to be sneaking in around a recessed light fixture. Didn’t even think about it until I nearly froze my hand off up there. My go-to is the back-of-the-hand test, too. Also, I’ve seen folks accidentally block soffit vents with insulation—easy mistake, but then you’re just trapping moisture. If you’re crawling around, might as well double-check those are clear... saves a headache later.
That’s a good point about soffit vents getting blocked—see it all the time, especially with blown-in insulation. Folks think more insulation is always better, but if you choke off that airflow, you’re asking for mold and rot. I’m not totally sold on the back-of-the-hand test, though. Sometimes those drafts are sneaky, especially around chimneys or knee walls. Smoke pencil’s a bit old school, but it’s caught stuff I’d have missed otherwise. Every attic’s got its own quirks, honestly.
I’ve wondered about the smoke pencil thing—does it really work that much better than just feeling for cold spots? I tried the back-of-the-hand trick last winter and honestly, my attic felt drafty everywhere, but I still ended up with ice dams. I’m in Michigan, so maybe that’s part of it. Anyone actually fix their airflow issues without spending a fortune? I keep hearing “baffles” but not sure if they’re worth the hassle or just another upsell.
I’ve used a smoke pencil a few times and honestly, it’s more fun than anything—does help spot the sneaky leaks you can’t feel, but it’s not magic. In my own place (also Michigan), baffles actually made a difference. They’re not just an upsell if your insulation’s blocking airflow at the eaves. I did them myself for pretty cheap, just took some patience crawling around up there. Ice dams are brutal here... sometimes it’s a combo of venting and insulation that finally does the trick.
Baffles are underrated, honestly—most folks don’t realize how much blocked soffit vents can mess with attic temps. Did you notice any difference in moisture or frost up there after you added them? Sometimes I see condensation issues even with decent insulation.