That’s wild, I always thought more vents = better airflow too. I’ve been debating whether to add a gable vent or just stick with what’s there (soffit + ridge). Did you notice any difference in your energy bills after you blocked off the gables? I’m in a pretty humid area, so I’m a little nervous about messing up the balance and getting moisture issues. It’s weird how something that seems like common sense can backfire...
It’s weird how something that seems like common sense can backfire...
You’re not wrong—more vents can actually mess with airflow if they’re not balanced. In humid areas, mixing gable with ridge and soffit can pull moist air in through the wrong spots. I’ve seen folks end up with condensation issues after adding gable vents to a system that was working fine. If your soffit and ridge are clear and unobstructed, you’re usually set. Energy bills often drop a bit when attic temps stabilize, but it’s not always dramatic—depends on insulation and other factors too.
I’ve actually run into this with a few of the older duplexes I manage. First instinct was to add more vents, thinking it’d help, but it just made things worse—one place started getting mildew on the rafters after we added a gable vent. Turns out, the original ridge and soffit setup was doing its job, but that extra vent threw off the airflow. Now I always double-check what’s already there before touching anything. It’s wild how a “simple” fix can create new headaches.
That’s wild—never would’ve guessed adding a vent could actually make things worse. I always figured more airflow = better, but now I’m second-guessing my plan to stick a turbine vent up there. Anyone else ever try those spinning ones? I keep seeing them at the hardware store and they look kinda fun, but I’m not sure if they’d mess with the ridge/soffit setup or help at all.
Turbine vents can actually mess with a ridge/soffit system if you’re not careful. The thing is, they might pull air from the ridge instead of the soffits, which kills the whole flow. I’ve seen folks add them thinking it’ll help, but sometimes it just short-circuits the ventilation and makes hot spots worse. If your ridge and soffit setup is working, I’d stick with that unless you’ve got a specific problem spot you’re trying to fix. Those spinning vents look cool, but they’re not always the answer—especially if you already have balanced airflow.
