Squirrels rats raccoons and other pests all love to try getting into your home whenever there is a point of access.
Blocking attic vents in winter.
Your actual living space is sealed.
It may be necessary to clear your roof vents after heavy winter precipitation.
For years i ve been trying different schemes to block the cold drafts from my home s air conditioning vents.
Your attic vents also do more for your roof than merely preventing it from becoming overheated in the winter.
Remove the grate from the attic fan.
In the winter the vents will cause the attic to become cold but this should not damage your home or increase the energy use of your home so covering the roof vents is not necessary.
If you use the older style of roof vent to provide air circulation then you must install traps or blockage points that prevent them from nesting in your attic s insulation.
Adding a ridge vent is a fine idea and don t worry about it competing with the gable vents.
Poor insulation is usually the culprit although if you enter the attic on sunny winter day your attic space can be warmed by the sun more than your furnace.
Set the grate aside.
Deliberate blocking at eaves.
If there are asphalt shingles on your roof the attic must be ventilated to comply with the terms of the.
Ice buildup also weighs on the roof structure which is dangerous when it becomes heavy.
Obviously more research is needed but here s what we do know.
How to close an attic vent during the winter.
A hard wire runs directly from the.
If the gable vents aren t letting in rain or snow leave them alone.
Rodents can t get into your attic through roof ridge vents.
Heavy winter storms lead to snow and ice accumulation which may affect your roof ventilation s ability to allow free flowing air to move through the attic.
Measure the height and width of the.
Turn off the electricity to attic fan by unplugging or by disconnecting the hard wire from the junction box.
Don t avoid ventilating your attic for fear you re letting cold air into the house.
Seal air leaks in your attic floor so that roof venting doesn t suck conditioned air into the attic and cause moisture problems.
In some older buildings in an attempt to warm up a cold attic someone may have installed wood blocking between the rafters at the building eaves.
They are essentially holes right into the unheated attic immediately above since this is a 1950s ranch style house.
Remove this blocking when designing good attic venting.
They can help stop and prevent ice dams as well.
Blocking the vents can even harm your home by trapping moisture inside the attic.
In this case even if soffit vents are installed there will not be adequate air inflow.
