Why is cold air leaking from the vent over the stove in a one story home?

Answer 1

Most homes, whether one or multistory leak air year round. This is most notable during the winter season as warm air rises it tends to find an escape (through the attic by way of passage via electrical wiring outlets and via Plumbing passages within the interior walls). As the warm air seeks a path to rise, cold air will seek to enter your home to replace the lost warm air.

Some of this air exchange can be eliminated by seeking out the locations that allow the warm air to escape and by blocking passage. Use a can of expanding foam insulation to block the air exchange behind wall outlets. Stuff fiberglass insulation in larger spaces around plumbing and consider adding wallboard where necessary to close these large spaces.

You can also close up the oven vent but I do not recommend this except you are able to easily open the vent when necessary. Other locations that often leak air include the bathroom ceiling vent. It is important to allow the bath vents to work and the kitchen vent to work as it is in these rooms that warm and moist air arises. Please do not trap this damp air inside your home. Damp air should be allowed to leave your home as a very unwelcome visitor. Trapping damp air within your home will result in the creation of an ideal climate for some very bad, toxic molds to grow.