"Sometimes insulation gets stuffed too close and blocks them without anyone noticing..."
Exactly what happened in my attic. Previous owner crammed insulation right up against the soffit vents—took me forever to figure out why moisture kept returning. Clearing that space made a huge difference. Worth checking out.
Had the same issue when I first moved in—previous owner had insulation jammed right up against the soffit vents. Took me a while to realize why the attic was always damp. Ended up installing those foam baffles between the rafters to keep insulation clear of the vents. They're cheap, easy to put in, and solved the moisture problem completely. Might be worth looking into if you haven't already...
"Ended up installing those foam baffles between the rafters to keep insulation clear of the vents."
Yeah, those foam baffles are a lifesaver. I put them in last summer after noticing condensation building up on the attic ceiling. Honestly, I was skeptical at first—seemed too simple to actually work—but it made a huge difference. Did you notice any improvement in your home's overall temperature regulation after installing them? I'm curious if others found it helped with heating and cooling bills too...
Foam baffles definitely help with ventilation, but honestly, I haven't seen them make a huge dent in heating or cooling costs. In my experience, they're more about preventing moisture buildup and protecting insulation from mold or damage. If you're really looking to improve temperature regulation, you might want to check your attic insulation depth or consider sealing air leaks around recessed lights and attic hatches—those small gaps can add up surprisingly fast...
Totally agree about the foam baffles—definitely more about moisture than temperature. When I moved into my place, the attic was a mess of old insulation and random gaps everywhere. First thing I did was seal up around the attic hatch and recessed lights with some caulk and weatherstripping. Took maybe an afternoon, tops. After that, I added another layer of blown-in insulation to get it up to recommended depth (around 15-18 inches in my area). Honestly, that made a noticeable difference in comfort, especially upstairs.
One thing I'd add: check around your chimney or vent pipes too. I found a pretty big gap around my chimney flashing that was letting in drafts and moisture. Sealed it up with some high-temp caulk, and it helped a lot. It's those sneaky little spots you don't think about that really add up.