“ended up with a weird draft and cold spots in the house.”
That’s the classic sign of airflow gone sideways. People always assume more vents = better, but if the intake and exhaust aren’t balanced, you’re basically inviting outside air to sneak in wherever it wants—sometimes right down into your living space. I’ve seen folks add extra roof vents thinking it’ll help, then call me out because their bedrooms are freezing.
Honestly, 10% off your heating bill is pretty solid, especially if you’re in a colder climate. Hard to isolate the cause, like you said, but comfort counts for a lot. I’m curious—did you check your soffit vents for blockages? I can’t count how many times I’ve found insulation stuffed right up against them, totally choking off airflow. Even a perfect ridge vent won’t do much if the intake’s blocked.
Also, what’s your roof pitch? Steeper roofs sometimes need a different approach—seen some weird moisture issues on low-slope attics even with “proper” venting.
That’s spot on about soffit vents—mine were half-blocked with old insulation when I moved in. Cleared them out and it made a noticeable difference, especially in the back bedrooms. I used those cheap foam baffles to keep things open. Not perfect, but way better than before. Roof pitch here is pretty average, but I’ve heard low slopes can be a pain for moisture, like you said. Sometimes it feels like you fix one thing and another pops up... but at least the drafts are gone.
Had the same issue with insulation blocking my soffit vents—took forever to figure out why the attic was so stuffy. I ended up using those foam baffles too, but I had to tape a few in place since they kept shifting. Not a perfect fix, but it definitely helped with airflow. My roof’s a low slope and I’m always paranoid about moisture, especially after last winter’s ice dam mess... It’s wild how one small thing like venting can make such a difference in the whole house.
I hear you on the baffles sliding around—mine kept popping out until I wedged a scrap of cardboard behind them. Not the prettiest fix, but it’s held up for two winters now. I’m with you on the paranoia about moisture, especially with a low slope roof. I actually went around with a flashlight and checked every vent after a big snow last year... turns out, one was totally blocked by a bird’s nest. Never thought attic airflow would be such a saga, but here we are.
Never thought attic airflow would be such a saga, but here we are.
Seriously, who knew? Did you end up clearing out the bird’s nest yourself, or call someone in? I’m always worried about critters getting in—ever had issues with squirrels or anything bigger?
