My Attic Gets Hot In The Summer

An overheated attic can bake asphalt shingles on the roof and cause them to deteriorate.

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. Hang an outdoor thermometer in your attic making sure its range reaches at least 130 degrees fahrenheit. If hot air is allowed to sit in your attic it could overheat the shingles on your roof and cause damage. But by adding powered attic fans you will draw more air into the attic.

Ventilation is important to give moisture within the attic a way to escape. In addition hot air in your attic could increase moisture levels which could result in wood rot and mold growth. Another reason your attic is so hot is because of insulation. And it can cause your air conditioner to work harder than it needs to and send your energy bills soaring with the temperature.

Hang pencil and paper next to the thermometer and record the outdoor and attic temperatures. 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. Just make sure the ceiling is airtight and fully insulated and the temperature in the attic doesn t matter much. 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.

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. Unless your roofing system has insulation on the roofing deck and is designed without ventilation your furnace should not be heating your attic. It will help to keep the attic much cooler in the summertime. Your air conditioner will have to work harder to keep your home cool which means higher energy costs for you.

Not the overabundance but the lack of insulation in the attic. Using insulation only keeps the attic s heat from traveling through your home. Having a properly vented attic is the best way to keep attic cool because it allows the hot air to escape during the summer. 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.

During the summer heat a poorly insulated attic will allow heat into your home. 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.