"Usually better insulation or sealing up drafts fixes those stubborn rooms for good."
I see your point, but I wouldn't totally dismiss smart vents just yet. From my (limited) experience renovating our first place, sometimes even after sealing and insulating properly, certain rooms still have airflow issues. We tried the insulation route first—added attic insulation and sealed up every draft we could find—but our upstairs bedroom was still stubbornly stuffy.
We finally bit the bullet on a couple of smart vents, and honestly, it's made a noticeable difference. Pricey? Yeah, kinda...but they definitely helped balance things out without needing to overhaul ductwork or mess with zoning systems. I agree luck plays a part in HVAC lifespan for sure, but as far as comfort goes, smart vents aren't always just a "band-aid" solution—they can genuinely help when simpler fixes fall short.
Gotta admit, I was skeptical about smart vents at first (felt like another gimmicky smart home gadget), but they've actually saved me from a sweaty summer upstairs. Insulation's great, sure—but sometimes airflow just doesn't cooperate no matter how tight you seal things up...
20 years on the same HVAC? Man, you might wanna buy a lottery ticket with that kinda luck, haha. But seriously, glad the smart vents worked out for you—I've been debating giving them a shot myself. Do you find they're pretty responsive to temp changes, or do they lag behind a bit? My upstairs is basically a sauna every July, insulation or not...
I've had a similar experience with smart vents in one of my rental properties. Initially, I was skeptical they'd respond quickly enough, especially since the upstairs bedrooms were always roasting in summer. Surprisingly, they adapted pretty well—maybe a slight lag, but nothing too noticeable. One tip: pairing them with a good thermostat sensor upstairs made a huge difference for me. Might be worth considering if your upstairs feels like a sauna every July...
I've noticed the same thing about thermostat sensors upstairs—they really do help even things out. One other thing that made a noticeable difference for me was adding some extra insulation in the attic. It wasn't a huge project, just rolled out some eco-friendly batts myself over a weekend, and the upstairs rooms cooled down way quicker afterward. Have you checked out your attic insulation lately? Might be another easy win if you're still dealing with summer heat...
