Blocking Attic Vents In Winter

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.

Blocking attic vents in winter. Blocking the vents can even harm your home by trapping moisture inside the attic. Deliberate blocking at eaves. Adding a ridge vent is a fine idea and don t worry about it competing with the gable vents. If there are asphalt shingles on your roof the attic must be ventilated to comply with the terms of the.

Rodents can t get into your attic through roof ridge vents. How to close an attic vent during the winter. Unless your roofing system has insulation on the roofing deck and is designed without ventilation your furnace should not be heating your attic. Block winter drafts from home air conditioning vents.

Remove this blocking when designing good attic venting. Remove the grate from the attic fan. 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. Ice buildup also weighs on the roof structure which is dangerous when it becomes heavy.

Seal air leaks in your attic floor so that roof venting doesn t suck conditioned air into the attic and cause moisture problems. They can help stop and prevent ice dams as well. Obviously more research is needed but here s what we do know. Squirrels rats raccoons and other pests all love to try getting into your home whenever there is a point of access.

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. Measure the height and width of the. It may be necessary to clear your roof vents after heavy winter precipitation. If the gable vents aren t letting in rain or snow leave them alone.

For years i ve been trying different schemes to block the cold drafts from my home s air conditioning vents. 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. Roof vents allow air to circulate through your attic and exit your home. In this case even if soffit vents are installed there will not be adequate air inflow.

A hard wire runs directly from the. Don t avoid ventilating your attic for fear you re letting cold air into the house. Your actual living space is sealed. Turn off the electricity to attic fan by unplugging or by disconnecting the hard wire from the junction box.

Set the grate aside.