“If the baffles aren’t secured properly, blown-in insulation will just push them right out of place over time.”
That’s exactly what happened in one of my rentals—insulation guys did a quick job and I didn’t catch it until I saw frost on the sheathing that winter. Ended up with a minor mold issue. Since then, I make attic checks part of my annual routine. It’s not glamorous, but catching those little things (like loose baffles or blocked soffits) early has saved me from way bigger headaches down the line. Powered fans always seemed like overkill to me unless there’s a real design flaw.
I’ve seen way too many attics where those baffles are just tossed in, barely stapled, and then the insulation guys go wild with the blower. Next thing you know, you’re looking at packed insulation right up against the roof deck—no airflow at all. I get that some folks think powered fans are a quick fix, but honestly, if you get the basics right—baffles secure, soffits clear, ridge vent working—you rarely need anything fancy.
One time, I was called out to check a “mysterious leak” and it turned out to be condensation dripping from the nails because the attic was basically a sauna. No baffles, insulation blocking every vent. The homeowner thought adding a fan would solve it, but that’s just treating the symptom, not the cause.
I’m probably a bit obsessive about attic checks now, but I’d rather spend 10 minutes up there in spring and fall than deal with mold remediation or a warped deck. Maybe I’m old school, but a little prevention beats chasing after problems later.
Ha, I hear you on the attic sauna situation. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve crawled up there and found those baffles just sort of... existing, not actually doing anything. Folks think a fancy fan will fix bad airflow, but if your attic’s packed tighter than a Thanksgiving turkey, it’s just moving hot air around. Honestly, I’ll take a quick flashlight check and a broom any day over pulling soaked insulation later. Prevention’s way less sweaty.
if your attic’s packed tighter than a Thanksgiving turkey, it’s just moving hot air around.
That’s the truth. I’ve seen folks spend a fortune on powered vents, but if the soffits are blocked or insulation’s jammed up against the roof deck, you’re just circulating the same hot mess. Curious—anyone ever had issues with mold after a storm because of poor attic airflow? I’ve found that’s where the real headaches (and costs) start.
if the soffits are blocked or insulation’s jammed up against the roof deck, you’re just circulating the same hot mess.
Had that exact problem after a big rain last year. Mold popped up in the corners—cost me a weekend and a couple hundred bucks to fix. Clearing those soffits made a bigger difference than any fancy vent ever did.
