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Insulate or Ventilate “Bump Out”

Daniel0430 | Posted in Energy Efficiency and Durability on

First post long time free lurker/reader. I just wanted to get a consensus for options. We have a late 70s raised ranch. The front faces west and we cannot put any trees due to our septic leach field in the front yard. So the place is usually blistering during summer days. I had the attic insulation removed (mostly) and am running through baffle installation and air sealing before new stuff goes back in.  Hence the project. I noticed that this “bump out” has no soffit vents. Then I was able to scoot over there and take a picture and realized that it also doesn’t have any insulation.  So the only way for air to move is for it to heat up hot enough to get into the attic and then out. I imagine that doesn’t help our summer afternoon heat. I would kind of like to take the excess older insulation that was missed and push it into the hole. It wouldn’t be the “best” solution but at least I wouldn’t be throwing money down the hole on the off chance it gets wet or something. My other thought would be to keep it as clean as possible and tie it into the baffles that reach the roof deck and eventually ventilate this wall section via soffit vents. 
Thanks for your time and opinions.

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Replies

  1. Expert Member
    Michael Maines | | #1

    The right thing to do would be to add soffit vents. Or you could use closed-cell spray foam at that location. Any other solution would risk moisture accumulation and/or ice dams.

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