Slightly uncomfortable....

[kpierce]

I took the temp from the attic access, put it in hold mode and snapped a pic. There was one ridge vent and the blown-in insulation was blocking all of the soffit vents. Outisde temp was only about 70-75.

[iniquette]

Recommend having a contractor remedy the situation because of improper airflow.

[kpierce]

Yup. That's what I wrote.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by kpierce

Yup. That's what I wrote.

Would be interested if you went back and measured attic temp on a still, clear July/August day with similar outdoor temps after the problem is "corrected".

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by Brian A. MacNeish

Would be interested if you went back and measured attic temp on a still, clear July/August day with similar outdoor temps after the problem is "corrected".

I agree.

According to this study and several others, "average" attic temp is 40 degrees F higher than the ambient temp. Variances to that would come at different times of the day, etc.

I don't see 144 degrees as a defect. The blocked soffit vents, regardless of temperature, would be a defect.

The darker the shingles, the hotter the attic.

[kpierce]

Originally Posted by jbushart

I agree.

According to this study and several others, "average" attic temp is 40 degrees F higher than the ambient temp. Variances to that would come at different times of the day, etc.

I don't see 144 degrees as a defect. The blocked soffit vents, regardless of temperature, would be a defect.

The darker the shingles, the hotter the attic.

I didn't state in the inspection or on this forum that I thought 144 degrees was a defect. But to be the devil's advocat, according to your statement, 40 degrees above the ambient temp. would be around 115. The temp. reading was almost 70 degrees above! Also, this inspection was around 2pm.
I only noted the blockage of the soffit vents and the apparent lack of ridge vents in the inspection....and of course advised further investigation by a qualified contractor.

[Jeff Orcas]

Kevin,

the bigger problem in the Pacific NW isn't the high temp, its the mold that will grow on the backside of the roof in the cooler months. Warm moist air from the home will condense of the roofing and you will see dark spots. I tell my clients you can't have too much ventilation in these parts,

Jeff

[David P. Valley]

Soffit vents being covered is a norm in my area. I find attic ventilation issues in 90% of the homes I inspect.

That gave me no choice but to design a web page on Attic Ventilation.

It's simply amazing to see so many re-roofs and newly constructed homes that have ventilation issues.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by Jeff Orcas

Kevin,

the bigger problem in the Pacific NW isn't the high temp, its the mold that will grow on the backside of the roof in the cooler months. Warm moist air from the home will condense of the roofing and you will see dark spots. I tell my clients you can't have too much ventilation in these parts,

Jeff

HOUSE AIR LEAKAGE- There's the defect......losing heat, that isn't that cheap anymore, and letting moisture into the attic where mould may grow. So in this time of high energy costs, which would you want to do?? (1)Improve the attic venting which will in all likelyhood increase the rate of warm air loss from the home (and in some wet homes may increase the condensation in the attic) .......or (2) airseal at the ceiling level which reduces both heat loss and moisture transport to the cool/cold attic where it condenses and may, over time, rot the roof sheathing!! Your choice!!!

Stopping the moisture transport upwards (doing a good job and not lip service) usually reduces condensation enough so that additional venting is not needed!!

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by dvalley

Soffit vents being covered is a norm in my area. I find attic ventilation issues in 90% of the homes I inspect.

That gave me no choice but to design a web page on Attic Ventilation.

It's simply amazing to see so many re-roofs and newly constructed homes that have ventilation issues.

So what do you think about the concept of conditioned attics with no ventilation at all? Is this an issue?

My feeling is that if you are not seeing the attic at the worst time of the year (up north: coldest days in January/February), in most cases, it will be hard to truly make an accurate determination if there is a ventilation issue. I have a check box on my report that tells my clients to check the attic during this period.

[Barry Adair]

Brian,
I wish there were more coming on board with the conditioned method
Maybe by the end of my career I'll see more than 1-2 a year

Insulation/ventilation

[dplummer]

Just out of curiosity, what was the indoor temp?

Doug

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by badair

Brian,
I wish there were more coming on board with the conditioned method
Maybe by the end of my career I'll see more than 1-2 a year

Insulation/ventilation

Barry:

By coincidence, I have been referring people to that article for 5-6 years now for the very last graphic of how to deal with kneewalls and outer attics in a truly energy efficient and cost effective manner. We were doing that in our insulation company about 1983-84.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by Brian A. MacNeish

So what do you think about the concept of conditioned attics with no ventilation at all? Is this an issue?

Absolutely. Not only is this an issue...It's worse with the conditioned attics. The summer months (w/ hot attic cavities) will deteriorate that roof in less than 10 years.

Here's a roof surface that I inspected which was only 9 years old. Not a single vent was installed in the entire roof surface.


The Seller ended up calling me and yelling at me for telling my Buyers that the roof shingles needed to be replaced now. She told me that she had those shingles installed nine years ago. I told her to get a roofer in to evaluate her shingles, and if her roofer says that the shingles are fine, I'll buy the new shingles for my Buyers.

She never called back. Hmmmm..I wonder why?

[Barry Adair]

David,

Not fair those look like they were a 5 year shingle to start out with. They almost got twice the life!

Originally Posted by Brian A. MacNeish

Barry:
By coincidence, I have been referring people to that article for 5-6 years now for the very last graphic of how to deal with kneewalls and outer attics in a truly energy efficient and cost effective manner. We were doing that in our insulation company about 1983-84.

Brian,
I'm sure you've seen this one that I now use

Energy efficiency and insulation instructions for attics: http://www.southface.org/web/resources&services/publications/factsheets/9atticaccess.pdf

What's your thought on Owens Pink-cap?