Soffit Vent Attic Insulation

Covering up the soffit vents with loose fill or batts which can happen if you stuff insulation along the eaves is a huge no no.

Soffit vent attic insulation.

A well ventilated attic offers four benefits. The airflow from the soffits to the ridge vent keeps the roof cool and prevents ice dams and the material will block that flow. You should clean soffit eave and other types of attic air intake vents at least every couple of years if not annually. The attic roof vent baffles baffles hold the insulation away from the roof deck to permit air to enter the attic or under roof space.

Attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents. Add soffit venting first. Attic ventilation is critical to the health of your house. We use this same design under roofs that cover cathedral ceilings but on occasion find that more air space and air flow up under the roof sheathing are needed in those structures.

At first it may seem odd to add insulation for warmth and then purposely allow cold air to. You need one baffle for each of the soffit. For the same reason insulation shouldn t touch the roof s underside. The soffit vents are now installed but you still need to make sure there s no insulation blocking the new vents.

Butt a cardboard template against the fascia and mark your soffit hole locations to begin. Clear loose fill insulation from inside the attic by pulling it off the vent covers and making piles on the attic side of the vents. The problem with insulation extending into the soffits is that air getting sucked in through the soffit vents runs over the insulation. How to keep blow in insulation out of soffits 1.

The best way to clean them is with blasts of compressed air to blow away dust dirt and any loose insulation that may have fallen into the soffit area. If there s blown in insulation like ours rake back the fluffy stuff with a 3 or 4 ft long 1 x 6 or use a garden rake or hoe. Lay strips of 3 4 inch plywood that are at least 24 inches wide across the floor of the attic. If the attic is insulated with fiberglass batts just pull back any that are blocking the flow of air.

Here s how to keep the air moving with soffit vents. There should be no insulation within 3 inches of the vent. It prevents mildew growth and rot on your roof s framing and sheathing by. Attic fans are intended to cool hot attics by drawing in cooler outside air from attic vents.

Set the baffles inside the attic opening along with a loaded staple gun.