Funny, I had the same battle with drafts sneaking in around knee walls—no matter how much insulation I crammed in, it never felt airtight. Sealing the attic hatch made a bigger difference than I expected though. Gable vents are a compromise for sure, but sometimes you just work with what you’ve got.
Sealing the attic hatch made a bigger difference than I expected though.
Funny how that one little spot can make or break the whole setup, right? I’ve seen folks spend a fortune on insulation and still get cold toes because of a leaky hatch. Gable vents are definitely a mixed bag—sometimes they help, sometimes they just let in more wind than you bargained for. I always tell people: you can chase drafts forever, but sometimes it’s the simple fixes that move the needle.
That’s the thing—air leaks in the attic can really undermine everything else you do. I sealed my hatch with weatherstripping and some rigid foam, and it made a noticeable difference in winter drafts. But I’m still not sure about gable vents either. Did you end up blocking yours off or just adding baffles? Curious if anyone’s actually measured attic temps before and after tweaking vent setups...
But I’m still not sure about gable vents either. Did you end up blocking yours off or just adding baffles? Curious if anyone’s actually measured attic temps before and after tweaking vent setups...
- Gable vents are a weird one. I’ve seen them help and hurt, depending on how the wind hits your house.
- Personally, I left mine open but added baffles to keep insulation from choking the soffits. Didn’t block them—too paranoid about trapping moisture.
- I did stick a cheap temp sensor up there last summer. Temps dropped maybe 5°F after sealing leaks and making sure air could actually flow from soffit to ridge. Not earth-shattering, but less sweaty when I crawl up there.
- If you’re in a windy spot, sometimes gable + ridge can short-circuit airflow... but honestly, it’s not always a disaster unless you see frost or mold.
- Main thing: whatever you do, make sure air can move *through* not just *in*. Otherwise, you’re just mixing hot/cold air and hoping for the best.
Main thing: whatever you do, make sure air can move *through* not just *in*. Otherwise, you’re just mixing hot/cold air and hoping for the best.
That’s the part I keep getting stuck on. My attic’s got gable vents at both ends, plus soffits and a ridge vent. I thought more was better, but now I’m reading that too many vents can actually mess up the airflow pattern? Not sure if it’s just internet paranoia or what.
- Left my gables open for now. Didn’t block them because I’m worried about moisture too.
- Added baffles last fall—total pain to install around all the old insulation, but at least I know the soffits aren’t buried anymore.
- Haven’t measured temps yet, but honestly, it still feels like a sauna up there in July. Maybe 5°F cooler after sealing gaps, but nothing dramatic.
- No mold or frost so far (knock on wood), but I do wonder if having all three vent types is overkill.
Kind of wish there was a simple answer here. Every roofer seems to say something different... Guess as long as nothing’s growing or dripping, it’s “good enough”?
