I'm in the process of getting quotes for some insulation work in my attic, and one of the companies recommended that I close my gable vents. Right now, I've got soffit vents for air intake, box vents for exhaust, and gable vents as well. I also have an attic fan that exhausts through one of the gable vents which is controlled by a thermostat, but I'm confused because I've read mixed opinions on this. Closing the gable vents feels strange to me since keeping heat out of the attic and second story is my primary concern. What do you think?
1 Answer
I recently came across some info about attic ventilation that mentioned not mixing different vent types, as they can interfere with each other. With your powered fan, it might be pulling air from just the closest gable or box vent instead of circulating it properly throughout the attic. I’d suggest keeping the soffit vents and the fan, then maybe try closing the gable vents to see if that improves airflow.
If the fan only pulls from one place, isn't that kind of inefficient? Wouldn't the air still move around as long as it's venting out? I guess it comes down to the math.