Attic Baffles

I'm wondering if the baffling in my attic is optimal. I don't mean the amount; I've got continuous soffit venting all along the front and back of the house, and a baffle in each bay. I mean the type and whether they are doing what they are supposed to be doing. They are cardboard. They look to be keeping the blown in insulation from blocking the soffits, but they are not up close to the roof decking, and some of them have kind of collapsed onto the insulation. Most pictures you see show the baffles fastened to the decking and creating narrow "raceways" to direct the airflow up towards the ridge vent, like this first example. Here are two pictures of my baffles. You can see they are wide open and let plenty of air in, but they are not directing it upwards via narrow channels. Is this really a problem I should worry about and try to correct by possibly putting in better baffles? Another question: Every year, a few wasps come into the attic and build little nests. They build them right over the soffits, and with the baffles wide open like they are I can easily see them and get rid of them, which I do a couple times a year. If I get better baffling that is up tighter to the decking, I won't be able to see in there and get to them, and I imagine they might really get some big nests built. Is this a legitimate worry?

 

A little un organized but the purpose is to keep insulation from falling across/into the opening and blocking air flow.

I dont see any issues!

 

Larger channels are better than narrow ones. The primary drawback is reduced insulation space below the baffle, especially over the outside wall, the top plate. The cold air entering doesn't not follow the bottom of the sheathing up to the ridge but spills out onto the attic floor. That displaces the warmer air and moves it up to exit the ridge.

You could fix the one that has collapsed and others like it but basically what you have is working.

Note, newer insulation guidance would suggest air sealing and more insulation during which you might elect to install baffles with flaps that go into the soffit area and block incoming air from flowing through the insulation, wind washing.

Bud

 

Thanks, glad to hear both of your responses. I think I may try to crawl out there and staple the ones that have collapsed back up onto the rafters. And I'm thinking to add more blown in, but first will rake the existing out of the way and make sure that all ceiling penetrations are sealed.

 

Here's a link that may help with the air sealing.
https://www.energystar.gov/ia/partne...ide_062507.pdf

If you hurry you might beat some of the summer heat. We still have snow in places.

Bud

 

Thanks, Bud. That's a helpful document.

Yes, I'm a bit late getting started on this. Wish I'd realized all this during the winter. I've had to work at night when it gets cool enough, and probably won't finish all I want to do before it becomes unbearable.