That’s wild, I ran into something similar last winter—thought more vents meant better airflow, but didn’t realize the attic needed a way for air to actually get in, not just out. Ended up with frost on the nails and some nasty mold patches. Did you notice any difference in energy bills after fixing your intake? I swear my AC runs less now, but maybe that’s just wishful thinking...
thought more vents meant better airflow, but didn’t realize the attic needed a way for air to actually get in, not just out.
Man, I did the same thing—just kept adding more roof vents thinking I was a genius, but all I got was a wind tunnel with nowhere for air to come from. Ended up with condensation and a weird musty smell that wouldn’t quit. As for energy bills, mine dropped a bit after I added soffit vents, but it’s hard to say if it’s just the weather or actual savings. Did you have to deal with any insulation issues too, or was it just the venting?
just kept adding more roof vents thinking I was a genius, but all I got was a wind tunnel with nowhere for air to come from.
That’s exactly what I see all the time—folks assume more vents = better, but without intake, it just doesn’t work. I’m curious, did you notice any insulation getting damp before you fixed the airflow? Sometimes the condensation ends up soaking the batts and then you’ve got two problems. Personally, I’ve found that even with good venting, if the insulation’s not right (like gaps or compression), temps still spike. Did you have to redo any of yours or just tweak the vents?
- Seen this a lot—people add a bunch of exhaust vents, but forget about soffit or other intake. Without intake, air just sits there or worse, pulls conditioned air from the house.
- Insulation-wise, I always check for damp spots or that musty smell. Sometimes you can see staining on the wood or even a little mold if it’s been going on long enough. Not always obvious unless you pull up the insulation though.
- Had one place where the homeowner kept adding roof vents every year, thinking it’d help with summer heat. Ended up with cold drafts in winter and soggy insulation because warm house air was getting sucked up and condensing.
- Personally, I’d say if you had to redo insulation, it’s usually because the airflow was never balanced in the first place. Gaps or compressed batts just make it worse—hot spots in summer, ice dams in winter.
- Quick tip: I like to use baffles at the eaves to keep insulation from blocking soffit vents. Makes a big difference and isn’t too pricey.
- Curious if you noticed any frost or dampness before you balanced things out? Sometimes it’s subtle until you get a real cold snap.
You nailed it about intake being just as important as exhaust. I learned that the hard way—added a couple of roof vents thinking more was better, but didn’t realize my soffits were basically blocked with old insulation. Ended up with frost on the nails and some damp patches in the corners after a cold snap. Once I cleared the soffits and put in baffles, things evened out a lot. It’s wild how much difference just a little airflow makes. I still check for that musty smell every fall, just in case.
