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12-17-2011, 01:53 PM
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#1
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Newbie
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 1
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Gable vents
What can I use to temporarily block the air from coming into my gable vents in the winte? Wind is from the north side only and makes attic air very cold.
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12-17-2011, 05:34 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: New Hampshire, USA
Posts: 397
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Gable vents
Your gable vents are likely there for a reason - to vent heat out of the attic. Block them off and you will get condensation, ice dams, leaks, and maybe worse! If your attic is well insulated, it shouldn't matter much how cool it gets up there.
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12-17-2011, 05:40 PM
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#3
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Disabled wood vet
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: California
Posts: 1,646
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Gable vents
Just tack a piece of cardboard or plywood over it. Vents are a lot more useful in the summer than the winter.
Sent from a Samsung Galaxy S2
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12-17-2011, 05:50 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: 84,Pa.15330
Posts: 915
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Gable vents
Quote:
Originally Posted by titanoman
Just tack a piece of cardboard or plywood over it. Vents are a lot more useful in the summer than the winter.
Sent from a Samsung Galaxy S2
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Bad advice.
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12-17-2011, 06:01 PM
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#5
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Disabled wood vet
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: California
Posts: 1,646
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Gable vents
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobelectric
Bad advice.
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No. Not really. Not just to get through the coldest winter months.
Okay. I'll meet you half way. The op can partially block the wind, maybe don't cover the whole thing up
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12-17-2011, 06:09 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Hartfield VA
Posts: 18,307
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Gable vents
An attic needs to be the same temp. as the outside air. If not as the other poster pointed out corretly Ice dams will form, and condinsation will cause the sheathing to rot out.
If an attic is warm in the winter on a cold day then you do not have enough insulation.
Never ever block up roof venting.
There's tons of web sites on the net telling you how must insulation to have in an attic in differant zones.
More suggest having R50 which is 12".
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12-17-2011, 06:14 PM
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#7
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Disabled wood vet
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: California
Posts: 1,646
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Gable vents
Nobody has asked if there are any roof vents on it.And I didn't think a piece off cardboard was all of a sudden going to make a big temp diff between the inside and the outside
Op: draw you're own conclusions. I'm no expert on climatology.
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12-17-2011, 07:19 PM
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#8
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Shut in w/o Home
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 690
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Gable vents
Quote:
Originally Posted by titanoman
Nobody has asked if there are any roof vents on it.And I didn't think a piece off cardboard was all of a sudden going to make a big temp diff between the inside and the outside
Op: draw you're own conclusions. I'm no expert on climatology.
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The vents are there to get moisture out of the attic. If the attic being too cold is a problem in the living space, then there are insulation/air sealing inadequacies which will put excess moisture in the attic.
To the OP - DO NOT CLOSE THE VENTS.
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12-17-2011, 07:23 PM
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#9
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Disabled wood vet
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: California
Posts: 1,646
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Gable vents
Quote:
Originally Posted by seeyou
The vents are there to get moisture out of the attic. If the attic being too cold is a problem in the living space, then there are insulation/air sealing inadequacies which will put excess moisture in the attic.
To the OP - DO NOT CLOSE THE VENTS.
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To the OP- I guess I gave you bad advice. Sorry.
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12-17-2011, 07:30 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Hartfield VA
Posts: 18,307
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Gable vents
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12-18-2011, 03:47 PM
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#11
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Exterior Construction
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: VA, MD, DC
Posts: 3,493
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Gable vents
It has been said before in the thread, but do not block your gable vents.
Attic venting is not like crawl space venting.
Attic ventilation is to control moisture diffusion primarily (i.e. prevention of condensation, mold, mildew, rotted framing/sheathing) and secondarily controls heat loss.
Heat loss should be controlled via the attic floor/main home connection with proper air sealing and insulation layers. Your attic should ideally be the same temperature as outdoor ambient air if it is a ventilated design.
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12-26-2011, 09:26 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Lake County, IL
Posts: 60
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Gable vents
DO NOT BLOCK YOUR VENTS.
Make sure to airseal the attic, all penetrations leading into the attic need to be sealed, then make sure you have the proper thickness of insulation for where you live.
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12-27-2011, 09:43 PM
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#13
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Newbie
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 27
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Gable vents
Do not block the vents.
Air seal and insulate your house, starting in the basement and work your way up.
go to energystar.gov for a complete list of what to do.
Blocking the vents will cause you nothing but problems including ice dams, mold, mildew, rotten roof decking ....
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