the new baffle vents don’t ice up nearly as bad as the old ones did—maybe the design’s just better now?
That’s interesting. I’ve noticed with some of the newer baffles, they’re shaped to keep snow from packing in and blocking airflow, which helps a ton during storms. Curious—did you add extra insulation or just swap out the vent setup? Sometimes folks forget air sealing around attic penetrations, and that can actually cause more ice damming than vent choice alone. Ever checked for warm spots on your roof after a snowfall? That’s usually my first clue if something’s off.
I swapped out the old cardboard baffles for those rigid foam ones last winter—huge difference. Didn’t bother with extra insulation, but I did go around with a can of spray foam and hit every weird gap I could find. Still got a couple of warm spots near the bathroom vent, though. Guess you can’t win ‘em all...
Those rigid foam baffles are a solid upgrade—cardboard ones just don’t hold up over time. Sealing gaps with spray foam makes a difference, but those warm spots near the bathroom vent are tricky. Sometimes it’s just the way the vent is routed or not enough airflow in that area. I’ve seen folks add a small vent fan or even reroute the duct to help balance temps, but it’s not always worth the hassle unless you’re seeing moisture issues. At least you’re not dealing with ice dams... that’s when things get ugly.
- Rigid foam baffles are definitely a step up—cardboard’s basically a soggy mess after a couple seasons, especially if you get any condensation up there.
- Warm spots near bathroom vents are classic trouble zones. I’ve seen more than a few cases where the vent duct just snakes around haphazardly, or worse, dumps right into the attic instead of outside. That’ll cook your insulation and invite mold.
- Spray foam’s great for sealing gaps, but it can be overkill if you’re not careful—seen folks accidentally block airflow and make things worse. Gotta keep those soffit vents clear.
- Rerouting ducts is a pain unless you’re already tearing stuff apart for another reason. If you’re not seeing moisture or staining on the ceiling, sometimes it’s better to just monitor it.
- Ice dams... yeah, that’s when you start seeing water pouring in through light fixtures. Not fun. If you ever spot those forming, time to get serious about attic airflow and insulation balance.
- Quick tip: I always recommend checking vent boots and flashing while you’re up there—those little leaks add up over time, especially after storms.
Spray foam’s great for sealing gaps, but it can be overkill if you’re not careful—seen folks accidentally block airflow and make things worse. Gotta keep those soffit vents clear.
Couldn’t agree more on the spray foam. I’ve had a couple units where someone got a little too enthusiastic with the stuff and suddenly the attic’s a sauna. It’s tempting to just seal every gap, but you really do need that airflow or you’ll be dealing with cooked insulation and maybe even warped roof decking. I check soffit vents every spring—amazing how fast they get clogged with dust and spiderwebs.
