I've noticed that my upstairs is super hot, and my AC seems to be working overtime. My house is fairly new, built in 2017, but when I checked the attic, it was scorching—150°F on an 80°F day! I'm curious if my soffit baffles are inadequate. My soffit has almost continuous vents with perforations, plus there are seven ridge vents. However, I only see baffles in about six areas, covering just 12 out of numerous rafter bays. Is this too few? Am I looking at the right spots? Should I remove the insulation around and add more baffles?
2 Answers
First off, every soffit vent should have a baffle to ensure proper airflow. So it looks like you're on the right track about needing more. Also, double-check that your ridge vents are functioning well—sometimes they can be installed poorly and not allow for optimal ventilation. If you're only seeing baffles in about 10% of your rafter bays, that's likely a big reason your attic is heating up. It might be worth the effort to dig out the insulation and add baffles to all the bays. Good luck!
Definitely sounds like you need more baffling in your attic. The hot temperature indicates that air isn't flowing properly, probably due to those limited baffles. Ensuring that every soffit has a baffle and that ridge vents are clear can help a lot. If you've confirmed the ridge vents are open, then adding more baffles should help balance out the heat up there. It's a bit of work, but it will pay off with a cooler upstairs!