Good points about balancing intake and exhaust. When we built our place, I spent way too many weekends researching attic ventilation (fun times, right?). Ended up going with a powered fan on a humidistat because our attic was always damp—lots of shade trees around the house, and passive vents just weren't cutting it.
One thing I'd add from experience: placement matters a lot. Initially, ours was installed too close to the ridge vent, and it ended up pulling air mostly from there instead of the soffits. Once we moved it lower down the roofline, airflow improved dramatically. Also, totally agree on sealing recessed lights and attic hatches—made a noticeable difference in comfort downstairs.
Still, powered fans aren't magic bullets. If your insulation is thin or patchy (like ours was at first), you'll still have issues. We beefed up insulation after installing the fan, and that combo finally got things under control. Like you said, it's all about figuring out what your attic specifically needs... trial and error sometimes.
"placement matters a lot. Initially, ours was installed too close to the ridge vent"
Good catch on placement—I learned that lesson the hard way too. Had a client's attic fan pulling air straight from the ridge vent...didn't help at all until we shifted it down. Definitely a trial-and-error kinda thing.
Definitely been there with attic fan placement—it's surprising how much a small shift can change the airflow. I had a similar issue with a client's attic remodel. We initially placed the fan thinking it'd be most effective right near the ridge vent, but it just ended up pulling air from outside instead of circulating properly. After moving it lower and adding some well-placed insulation baffles, things improved dramatically. While you're dealing with that itchy pink stuff anyway, might as well double-check your insulation channels and make sure they're guiding airflow correctly from soffits to ridge. It's one of those subtle details that really pays off in comfort (and energy bills) down the line...
Good points on the insulation channels—those baffles really do make a difference. One thing I'd add from experience: when you're adjusting fan placement, it's worth doing a quick smoke test to visualize airflow. Just grab one of those cheap smoke pencils or even incense sticks, and hold it near your soffit vents and fan intake. You'll see exactly how air moves through the attic space, and it can save you from guessing or having to redo things later.
Also, if you're already knee-deep in itchy fiberglass (been there, done that...ugh), consider wearing disposable coveralls and taping your sleeves and ankles shut. It sounds overkill, but trust me, you'll thank yourself later when you're not itching for days afterward. And don't forget a good respirator mask—not just a dust mask—to keep those tiny fibers out of your lungs.
Small comfort tip: baby powder helps get rid of fiberglass itchiness after you're done working. Sounds weird, but it actually works pretty well.
"Small comfort tip: baby powder helps get rid of fiberglass itchiness after you're done working. Sounds weird, but it actually works pretty well."
Wish I'd known about the baby powder trick sooner... spent way too many evenings scratching like crazy after attic work. Another thing that helped me was taking a cold shower first—hot water opens your pores and makes the itch worse. Cold water isn't fun, but it beats itching all night. Also, seconding the respirator advice; those cheap dust masks just don't cut it with fiberglass.
