I’ve run into this more than once—folks get excited about adding more vents, but don’t realize the intake is just as important as the exhaust. I had a similar issue when I bought my place. The previous owner had added a ridge vent, but the attic was still roasting in summer. Turned out, the soffit vents were basically blocked by old insulation that had shifted over the years. Clearing that out made a bigger difference than anything else I did.
One thing I’ve wondered about, though—has anyone had luck with those vent baffles or chutes you can install between the rafters? I’ve read they help keep insulation from blocking airflow, but I’ve never tried them myself. Seems like a good solution, especially if you’re dealing with blown-in insulation that tends to migrate. Curious if they actually hold up over time or if they just get crushed and end up causing the same problem.
I hear you on the soffit vents—mine were basically a mouse hotel stuffed with insulation when I moved in. Cleared those out and suddenly my attic wasn’t doubling as a sauna. As for those vent baffles, I actually went the cheap route and put them in myself last year. They’re just flimsy foam or plastic, but honestly, they’ve held up better than I expected. I was worried they’d get crushed under the weight of the blown-in insulation (which seems to migrate like it’s got legs), but so far, so good.
I will say, if you’re crawling around up there, wear long sleeves unless you enjoy itching for days. The baffles do make a difference—air actually moves now instead of getting trapped. Not saying it’s a miracle fix, but for the price, it beats having to redo all your insulation or pay someone to re-vent everything. Just don’t expect them to survive if you’ve got raccoons or kids stomping around up there...
I’m with you on the baffles—mine looked like something out of a dollar store Halloween aisle, but they’ve actually survived two winters so far. I was skeptical, especially with all the blown-in insulation shifting around every time the wind picks up. Still, attic’s noticeably cooler in summer now. Only thing I’d add: if you’ve got an older house like mine, watch for weird wiring or old nails when you’re up there. Nearly put my knee through a ceiling tile last spring... not my finest moment.
Those baffles really do look flimsy, don’t they? I remember thinking the same thing when I first installed mine—couldn’t believe something that cheap and plasticky would actually help. But here we are, three years later, and they’re still up there doing their job. My attic used to feel like a sauna in July, but now it’s just...hot, not unbearable.
You nailed it about old houses being full of surprises. Last time I was crawling around up there, I found a random knob-and-tube wire just dangling behind some insulation. Gave me a good scare. And yeah, stepping between joists is a whole art form—I’ve got a nice boot print on my hallway ceiling as proof.
One thing I’d add: if you’re messing with ventilation, check your soffit vents too. Mine were clogged with old insulation and dust bunnies the size of squirrels. Once I cleared those out, airflow improved a ton. Just takes a little patience and a mask unless you like sneezing for days...
I hear you on the soffit vents—found a bird nest in one of mine after a storm last spring. That was a fun surprise... Not sure how much difference it made for airflow, but at least the birds were happy for a while. Clearing them out definitely helped with the attic temps, though. And yeah, those baffles look like they’d fold if you breathed on them, but they do seem to hold up. I was skeptical too until I realized my insulation wasn’t all matted and soggy anymore. Funny how something so cheap can actually work.
