It’s wild how much difference a couple of vents can make.
Funny how something as simple as airflow gets ignored until the damage is already done. I’ve seen projects where folks invest in high-end shingles, ice shields, the works—yet skip ventilation and end up with warped sheathing or even mold. It’s like putting a fancy hat on a sweaty head.
On the energy bills, I did notice a modest drop after we added ridge and soffit vents to my place. Nothing dramatic, but the attic temp was definitely less sauna-like in July. That seemed to help the AC keep up without running nonstop. I wouldn’t call it a miracle cure for high bills, but it’s a nice bonus on top of protecting the roof structure.
One thing I’d add: sometimes people go overboard and install too many vents, which can actually mess with airflow patterns and reduce effectiveness. There’s a bit of an art to balancing intake and exhaust—more isn’t always better.
Definitely agree—ventilation is one of those things people overlook until it’s too late. I’ve seen roofs rot from the inside out just because the airflow was off. One thing I’d add: make sure you calculate the right ratio of intake to exhaust vents. The general rule is about 1 square foot of vent for every 300 square feet of attic, but it’s worth double-checking based on your local code and climate. Too much exhaust with not enough intake can actually pull conditioned air out of your house, which is just throwing money away. Small tweaks can go a long way...
NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF
That’s a great point about the vent ratio. I had no idea how much that mattered until we started building—honestly, I thought “vents are vents,” but turns out, it’s a whole balancing act. We almost went overboard with exhaust fans because I wanted to make sure nothing ever got musty, but our builder flagged it. Too much exhaust and not enough intake really does mess with your heating and cooling bills.
One thing I’d add: if you’re replacing the roof anyway, check if your soffit vents are actually clear. Ours were packed with old insulation and dust, so even though they looked fine from the outside, hardly any air was getting through. Cleaning those out made a bigger difference than I expected.
It’s wild how something you barely see can make or break the whole system. Definitely worth crawling around up there before the new roof goes on... not the most glamorous job, but it beats dealing with mold later.
NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF
I get the urge to go all-in on vent cleaning, but honestly, sometimes the bigger issue is not blocked vents—it’s that there just aren’t enough of them, or they’re undersized for the attic space. I’ve seen folks spend hours clearing out soffits only to still have issues because the original builder shortchanged the venting. Before you crawl around, maybe double-check the math on your attic’s total vent area. Sometimes adding a couple new vents makes a bigger impact than cleaning the old ones. Just my two cents...
Sometimes adding a couple new vents makes a bigger impact than cleaning the old ones. Just my two cents...
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve seen folks go wild with leaf blowers and wire brushes, but if your attic’s basically a sauna, it’s probably not just dust bunnies to blame. When I redid my roof, I added ridge vents and it made a night-and-day difference—house felt less stuffy, and the shingles have held up better too. Sometimes you gotta think bigger picture than just cleaning what’s already there.
