attic didn’t feel like a sauna anymore.
That’s exactly what happened at my place after I finally got around to installing baffles. Before that, it was like stepping into a sweat lodge every summer, and I swear the insulation just kept creeping over the vents no matter how careful I was. I went with the foam ones too—nothing fancy, but they did the trick.
One thing I’ll say, though, is I had a heck of a time getting them to stay put in a couple spots where the rafters were uneven. Ended up using a little scrap wood to wedge them in tighter. Not pretty, but it works.
I’m with you on those powered attic fans. My neighbor put one in after a leak, and his cooling bill shot up because it was pulling cold air right out of his house. Sometimes “more airflow” just means more headaches.
Biggest surprise for me was how much critters love those baffles. Found a squirrel stash of acorns in one last fall… guess everyone wants good ventilation.
I hear you on the baffles not wanting to stay put—mine kept sliding around too, especially near the eaves where nothing’s ever square. I ended up using a couple zip ties and some leftover cardboard just to keep them from flopping over. Not exactly professional, but it’s holding up so far.
About those powered attic fans, I’ve always wondered if they’re worth the money. Seems like every time someone installs one, they end up cooling the whole neighborhood instead of just the attic. I get the idea behind them, but unless your attic is sealed off perfectly (which mine definitely isn’t), I’m not convinced they save anything on bills.
Critters are a whole other headache. Last winter I found mouse droppings in one of my baffles—guess they like the airflow too. Anyone tried those metal mesh screens over the vents? I’m thinking about it, but not sure if it’ll mess with the ventilation or just keep the squirrels out.
Zip ties and cardboard—been there, done that. Sometimes you just have to work with what you’ve got, right? I tried using those foam baffles too and they kept popping out until I stapled them in place, but even then it’s not perfect around the weird angles. As for the powered fans, I’m with you. Unless your attic is sealed up tight, they can pull air from the house instead of just venting the attic. I’ve seen folks end up with higher cooling bills because of that.
About the metal mesh screens: I put some over my soffit vents last fall after a squirrel chewed through the old plastic ones. Haven’t noticed any airflow issues so far, but I did go with a pretty open mesh (like 1/4 inch hardware cloth). Keeps the critters out but still lets air move. Just make sure to check for dust or leaves building up every now and then... learned that one the hard way.
Curious if anyone else has had issues with the mesh screens clogging up over time? I get that 1/4 inch hardware cloth keeps out the bigger critters, but I’ve noticed in my attic (older house, lots of trees around) that even the open mesh can get layered with pollen and little leaf bits. After a while, airflow definitely drops—caught it last summer when the attic was way hotter than usual.
Also, about powered fans pulling air from the house: is that always a problem if you’ve got decent insulation and air sealing between the attic and living space? I get worried about spending on one and then just making things worse on the energy bill. Has anyone tried those solar-powered fans? Wondering if they’re any better or if it’s just another gadget.
On the baffles, I’m still not convinced foam is worth the hassle. Has anyone just gone with cardboard permanently? I’m all for saving a few bucks, but maybe there’s a sweet spot I’m missing.
Mesh screens clogging is a classic pain, especially with all those trees. I’ve seen folks try to “upgrade” to finer mesh, but honestly, it just clogs faster. I usually tell people to stick with the 1/4 inch and just plan on a quick brush-off every spring. Not glamorous, but it works.
Powered attic fans… mixed bag. If your attic’s sealed up tight, you’re probably fine, but I’ve seen a few cases where they ended up pulling cool air from the house anyway—especially in older homes where air sealing isn’t perfect. Solar fans are neat in theory, but unless you get a good one (and they’re not cheap), they don’t move much air when you need it most—like on those blazing hot afternoons.
Cardboard baffles? I’ve seen ‘em last a few years, then start sagging or getting chewed up by critters. Foam’s a pain to install sometimes, but it holds up better long-term. If you’re handy and don’t mind swapping out cardboard every so often, it’s not the worst shortcut.
