My Attic Gets Hot In The Summer

If you re designing and building a new home keeping an unconditioned attic cooler in summer is pretty much irrelevant.

My attic gets hot in the summer.

Unless your roofing system has insulation on the roofing deck and is designed without ventilation your furnace should not be heating your attic. But by adding powered attic fans you will draw more air into the attic. Your air conditioner will have to work harder to keep your home cool which means higher energy costs for you. Though most newer homes have extensive vapor barriers to keep living space moisture from getting into the attic leakage around recessed light fixtures and bathroom vents still allow some moisture to enter the attic.

Just make sure the ceiling is airtight and fully insulated and the temperature in the attic doesn t matter much. During the summer heat a poorly insulated attic will allow heat into your home. If the joints in your ductwork are not properly sealed your forced air system can suck attic air into the ducts air that s either really hot in the summer or really cold in the winter. If hot air is allowed to sit in your attic it could overheat the shingles on your roof and cause damage.

Hang pencil and paper next to the thermometer and record the outdoor and attic temperatures. An unventilated attic can reach 150 degrees in the heat of summer 50 degrees higher than it should be. The thermostat will usually start at 95 degrees fahrenheit which is the temperature that the attic fan usually starts at. Not the overabundance but the lack of insulation in the attic.

Using insulation only keeps the attic s heat from traveling through your home. It will help to keep the attic much cooler in the summertime. An overheated attic can bake asphalt shingles on the roof and cause them to deteriorate. Poor insulation is usually the culprit although if you enter the attic on sunny winter day your attic space can be warmed by the sun more than your furnace.

And it can cause your air conditioner to work harder than it needs to and send your energy bills soaring with the temperature. Ventilation is important to give moisture within the attic a way to escape. Within the attic insulation is a must. Not only will the attic heat up but if the floor of your attic isn t insulated properly that heat will come right into your home.

Another reason your attic is so hot is because of insulation. The attic is a huge determinant in keeping your entire home cool so the first place to start cooling your home should be the attic.