Hey everyone! I'm trying to improve the energy efficiency of my house, which was built in 1962. During the peak of summer, temperatures can hit around 100°F, and my home stays around 77°F at night, even with the AC running until 4 AM. I recently found out that while we have soffit holes, there are no vents in the gables. When I checked the gables last week, I found some old wooden vents covered by a dirty mesh screen.
I have a couple of questions:
1. Should I remove that mesh and replace the gable siding to improve airflow? I have five roof vents but still feel like there's not enough airflow because the attic hit 140°F last summer.
2. Our attic has really low clearance from insulation sprayed in about eight years ago. If I find poor insulation, can I get more sprayed in through the gable vent? I'm looking for ways to keep my house cooler. Thanks!
2 Answers
It sounds like your insulation was blown in. If that's the case, and you don’t have ridge vents, you might not need the gable vents. Gable vents can actually mess with airflow if you already have different types of vents near the roof, so it might be worth it to cover them up if everything else is functioning well. Make sure your roof ventilation setup is good!
It really depends on your specific setup! Ideally, you want air to come in from the eaves and go out near the ridge to maintain good ventilation. Since you mentioned it gets super hot in the attic, it might be best to check if your current venting is adequate. If you can't access the attic for an install or fan replacement, ensuring the existing vents work properly could help. Have you thought of any other cooling methods for that attic heat?
Yeah, I'm at a loss for other cooling methods. Any suggestions? It gets so hot without proper airflow!
Thanks for the info! I don't have ridge vents, just those turtle vents. Should I still consider blocking the gable vent?