You nailed it—ventilation gets overlooked way too often. I’ve seen folks add insulation thinking they’re doing the right thing, then call me a year later about weird stains or that musty smell. One time, a guy even taped over his soffit vents “to keep drafts out.” Didn’t end well. Midwest winters are no joke, but you’re right, sometimes the house just needs to breathe a little. Funny how much time we end up spending in attics, huh?
One time, a guy even taped over his soffit vents “to keep drafts out.” Didn’t end well.
That’s a classic mistake. I always tell people: first thing, check your soffit and ridge vents for blockages, especially after adding insulation. I used those baffles to keep the airflow open when I redid my attic—made a world of difference with moisture. Curious, has anyone tried adding powered attic fans? I’ve heard mixed things, but never installed one myself. Wondering if they’re worth the cost or just end up moving the problem around...
I’ve wondered about powered attic fans too. When I bought my place last year, the inspector actually warned me against them unless you’re really sure your attic is sealed from the rest of the house. Apparently, if there are gaps, the fan can pull conditioned air up from your living space, which kind of defeats the purpose and might even raise energy bills. I ended up just making sure my soffit and ridge vents were clear and added those foam baffles—noticed less humidity up there since. Not sure if a fan would help much in a mild climate like mine anyway...
I get where you’re coming from—powered attic fans sound good in theory, but they can backfire if the attic isn’t sealed tight. I’ve seen cases where folks thought they’d cool things down, but ended up pulling AC right out of their living rooms. In a mild climate, passive ventilation like clear soffit and ridge vents usually does the trick anyway. Unless you’re dealing with serious heat buildup, I’d stick with what you’ve got. Those foam baffles make a bigger difference than most people expect...
Unless you’re dealing with serious heat buildup, I’d stick with what you’ve got.
- Good point on the powered fans—seen a few homes where negative pressure actually pulled in dusty air from the crawlspace.
- Passive systems like ridge/soffit vents are usually enough, especially if insulation’s up to par.
- Curious—has anyone here tried adding a radiant barrier along with those foam baffles? Wondering if it’s worth the extra step in a mild climate.
