Totally get what you're saying about ridge vents. When I bought my place last year, the inspector mentioned ventilation but didn't really stress the intake part. I figured ridge vents alone would do the trick, but after reading your experience, I'm starting to wonder if that's why my attic still feels stuffy and humid. Might have to look into soffit vents now... sounds like another weekend project in the making, haha.
Yeah, ridge vents are great for letting hot air escape, but without proper intake, you're basically creating a vacuum effect. Had a similar issue a few years back—added soffit vents and it made a huge difference. Have you checked if your soffits are even vented or are they solid panels?
Good point about soffit vents—I never really thought about that vacuum effect until you mentioned it. Now I'm wondering if that's what's going on with ours. I think ours are solid panels, actually... at least they look pretty closed up from the ground. I'll have to get up there and double-check this weekend.
Funny enough, last summer when we were redoing shingles, my uncle kept saying "you need airflow, airflow!" but I kinda shrugged it off thinking the ridge vent alone was enough. Guess he might've been onto something after all, haha. Did you notice a big drop in attic temps once you added the soffit vents? Seems like a simple fix, but I bet it makes a noticeable difference.
- Yeah, ridge vents alone usually aren't enough—airflow needs an entry and exit point to work effectively.
- When we added soffit vents at my parents' place, attic temps dropped noticeably, especially on hot afternoons.
- Also noticed fewer ice dams forming in winter after improving ventilation...guess it helps year-round.
- Curious if you'll see a big difference once you swap out those solid panels. Let us know how it goes.
We just bought our first house last year, and noticed the attic was unbearably hot in summer. Wondering now if we need soffit vents too... did you DIY the install or hire someone? Seems like a solid upgrade.
