Basements, Attics and Crawl Spaces - House fan and baffles
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Dave_H6381
10-19-09, 06:30 PM
What is the best way to insulate the house fan (a cover? or placing BAT in the openings? or both? or other?) I use the fan from time to time during summer months, so I don't want to remove it.
Also, when getting the new roof, do the roofers install the new baffles? Or do I need to get in to do it myself? Should they be installed on the sheathing? Or on the truss'? It would seem to give the most air flow if it's on the truss', but not sure if there are down falls to that. Any helpful hints? Thanks...
Dave
Also, when getting the new roof, do the roofers install the new baffles? Or do I need to get in to do it myself? Should they be installed on the sheathing? Or on the truss'? It would seem to give the most air flow if it's on the truss', but not sure if there are down falls to that. Any helpful hints? Thanks...
Dave
Claw Hammer
10-22-09, 06:57 PM
What is the best way to insulate the house fan (a cover? or placing BAT in the openings? or both? or other?) I use the fan from time to time during summer months, so I don't want to remove it.
Also, when getting the new roof, do the roofers install the new baffles? Or do I need to get in to do it myself? Should they be installed on the sheathing? Or on the truss'? It would seem to give the most air flow if it's on the truss', but not sure if there are down falls to that. Any helpful hints? Thanks...
Dave
Insulate the house fan? What kind of fan are you talking about?
If you are talking about a attic fan, then you do not insulate the fan because it is in a cold zone and you do not want heat in a cold zone.
If you are talking about a ceiling fan - say in a bathroom, you do not insulate it either - because you want to exhaust the moisture and smells out of the bathroom 365 days a year.
As far as Baffles goes, if all you are replacing is the shingles on the roof, then the boards on the roof are not replaced and if the baffles are already there - then there is no reason to replace them.
Baffles are generally installed when you are using blown insulation or if your insulation is so high that it could touch the rafters at the eve's of the roof. They are used to establish some type of airflow through the soffit to the attic.
Also, when getting the new roof, do the roofers install the new baffles? Or do I need to get in to do it myself? Should they be installed on the sheathing? Or on the truss'? It would seem to give the most air flow if it's on the truss', but not sure if there are down falls to that. Any helpful hints? Thanks...
Dave
Insulate the house fan? What kind of fan are you talking about?
If you are talking about a attic fan, then you do not insulate the fan because it is in a cold zone and you do not want heat in a cold zone.
If you are talking about a ceiling fan - say in a bathroom, you do not insulate it either - because you want to exhaust the moisture and smells out of the bathroom 365 days a year.
As far as Baffles goes, if all you are replacing is the shingles on the roof, then the boards on the roof are not replaced and if the baffles are already there - then there is no reason to replace them.
Baffles are generally installed when you are using blown insulation or if your insulation is so high that it could touch the rafters at the eve's of the roof. They are used to establish some type of airflow through the soffit to the attic.
Gunguy45
10-28-09, 10:42 AM
Dave..if you want to insulate the WHOLE HOUSE fan (I assume thats what you meant) you can build an insulated cover out of 2" thick styrofoam from any building supply or Big Box store. Use the metal duct tape (not the fabric stuff) and silicone caulk to hold it together and seal the joints. Place it over the top of the fan with some small weight to hold it tightly in place. You can also go to a magnetic sign store and buy some material to put over the intake if it is metal (might be a little pricey), or get one of the plastic film interior window kits and put that up for the winter.
Need more info on the baffles as noted....did you maybe mean ridge vents?
Need more info on the baffles as noted....did you maybe mean ridge vents?
Dave_H6381
10-30-09, 06:35 AM
Thanks for the info on the HOUSE fan insulation. Didn't even think of the plastic window kits - can install that in the hallway, as well.
As for the baffles - sorry about the lack of info. I had another thread going before, and that one had all of the info. (Background info - had ALL of attic trusses filled with a combination of blown insulation, and had the BAT insulation stuffed at the soffit ends, resulting in no air flow, and now have a mildew and some mold issue in the attic - per home inspector, on the plywood sheathing - have opened up 18-20 trusses from around various spots, and removed that insulation getting the airflow now. This coming spring, plans are to do a COMPLETE tear off - including getting new plywood installed).
With that, the baffles that are still installed (on the sheathing, but pressed up against the roof, not allowing air flow) will come off when they remove the old plywood. SO, when the new roof gets put on, who would put the baffles on, and where (on the new plywood or on the trusses)?
ALSO a new question has now arised - when I removed the insulation from the 18-20 locations, I have left anywhere from 2" to 18-20" of the drywall from the floor below, uncovered. I understand that I will have some heat loss through this winter but could I end up screwing up the dry wall somehow? I would prefer not having to go around and recovering it at this time, since after the new roof gets installed, I will be up there to re-blow insulation - but don't want to make more problems. Again, thanks for the help...
Dave
As for the baffles - sorry about the lack of info. I had another thread going before, and that one had all of the info. (Background info - had ALL of attic trusses filled with a combination of blown insulation, and had the BAT insulation stuffed at the soffit ends, resulting in no air flow, and now have a mildew and some mold issue in the attic - per home inspector, on the plywood sheathing - have opened up 18-20 trusses from around various spots, and removed that insulation getting the airflow now. This coming spring, plans are to do a COMPLETE tear off - including getting new plywood installed).
With that, the baffles that are still installed (on the sheathing, but pressed up against the roof, not allowing air flow) will come off when they remove the old plywood. SO, when the new roof gets put on, who would put the baffles on, and where (on the new plywood or on the trusses)?
ALSO a new question has now arised - when I removed the insulation from the 18-20 locations, I have left anywhere from 2" to 18-20" of the drywall from the floor below, uncovered. I understand that I will have some heat loss through this winter but could I end up screwing up the dry wall somehow? I would prefer not having to go around and recovering it at this time, since after the new roof gets installed, I will be up there to re-blow insulation - but don't want to make more problems. Again, thanks for the help...
Dave