I hear where you’re coming from, but I’d push back a bit on going all-in with passive systems or green roofs, especially in colder climates. I’ve seen a few green roof installs up here in Minnesota, and while they look great, the maintenance and upfront costs can be a headache. Plus, if the vapor barrier isn’t perfect, you still get condensation issues. For most folks, making sure the attic is properly vented—ridge vents, soffit vents, and clear airflow—is the first step. After that, sure, sensors and humidifiers can help fine-tune things, but they’re not a fix for bad design. Just my two cents from crawling around too many attics with frost on the nails...
For most folks, making sure the attic is properly vented—ridge vents, soffit vents, and clear airflow—is the first step.
Totally agree on starting with solid basics. Seen too many green roof projects up north where the insulation gets compromised and you end up with ice dams anyway. Curious—has anyone here actually had long-term luck with those “smart” ventilation fans in cold climates, or do they just end up running all winter?
Curious—has anyone here actually had long-term luck with those “smart” ventilation fans in cold climates, or do they just end up running all winter?
We’ve tried a couple of those smart fans in some of our northern properties. Honestly, they seem to run more than I’d like once temps drop, especially if the attic insulation isn’t perfect. Sometimes I wonder if the energy savings are really there. Has anyone factored in how much humidity from living spaces is actually making it up into the attic? I keep seeing cases where air sealing gets overlooked, and then even the best venting can’t keep up.
I installed one of those “smart” fans last winter thinking it’d be a game-changer, but honestly, it just seemed to run non-stop once the real cold set in. My wife joked it was trying to launch the attic into space. I did notice way more condensation than I expected, even after adding insulation. Has anyone actually measured how much air leaks up from can lights or bathroom vents? Sometimes I wonder if sealing up every weird gap is more important than all this tech stuff.
- I kinda thought the same thing about sealing up every gap, but then I tried to DIY foam around my can lights and ended up with a mess and zero improvement.
- My “smart” fan also ran like it was prepping for takeoff, but I realized later it was sucking in cold air from somewhere else—maybe the basement?
- Honestly, I think the tech is only as good as the house is tight. If you’ve got leaky vents or weird gaps, the fan just works overtime and you get all that condensation anyway.
- Not sure if anyone’s actually measured the leaks, but I’d bet money on those bathroom vents being sneaky culprits.
- Sometimes I wonder if we’re just chasing our tails with gadgets when a tube of caulk might do more...
