Attic Insulation Blocking Soffit Vents

If you see insulation unscrew the vent covers with a screwdriver and push it toward the center of the attic space.

Attic insulation blocking soffit vents.

Homeowners can too easily inadvertently block them when insulating the attic. Some homeowners and even some insulation installers love to stuff insulation. Insulation stuffed into building eaves. Perforated soffit vents over solid wood.

Here are some examples of blocked intake venting in an attic. So i see this 1946 house here in fl today. 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. The insulation will resist heat transfer into the house.

For the same reason insulation shouldn t touch the roof s underside. While effective at pulling in cooler air the biggest problem posed by this type of soffit vents is their positioning. Many older homes have had exterior siding and soffit coverings installed. Baffle allows airflow and prevents insulation from blocking airflow.

3 clear loose fill insulation. Climb the ladder and inspect the vent openings. How to keep blow in insulation out of soffits. Never cover attic soffit vents with insulation use rafter vents and soffit vents to maintain airflow.

It still has the old gable vents. Accuvent original attic soffit vent systems fits 14 5 inch x 41 inch soffit areas 16 o c. I presume that it has the soffit vents but after being in the attic i see that the insulation is blocking the soffit. 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.

Alternatively use two half sheets of 3 4 inch. Lay strips of 3 4 inch plywood that are at least 24 inches wide across the floor of the attic. The most common mistake homeowners make when installing insulation is to block the flow of air at the eaves. You need one baffle for each.

Someone added a ridge vent. Unblocking wood blocked soffits is labor intensive i ve done it we either remove the blocking entirely or cut most of it away followed by providing soffit intake venting and using baffles as needed to avoid blocking the openings with insulation. It s a very small house barely 1200 sq ft. The airflow from the soffits to the ridge vent keeps the roof cool and prevents ice dams and the material will block that flow.