What's the Best Way to Cool an Attic?
Attics tend to reach unbearable levels of temperature in the summer and hotter months of the year. To deal with this, you must find ways to keep it comfortable so you can enjoy your attic space.
This blog discusses why attics become so hot and the best ways to cool it.
What are the best ways to cool the attic?
There are many solutions and options for cooling an attic during the hotter months of the year. The main four solutions are:
- Installing Radiant Barriers
- Improving Ventilation
- Adding Insulation
- Installing Attic Cooling Fans
Radiant Barriers
Radiant barriers, also known as reflective roofs, are a simple solution to keeping your attic cool. These barriers are normally installed in the attics.
Installing radiant barriers blocks the transfer of heat from the sun. This helps to reduce the high temperature during the hotter months. Using radiant barriers is more effective for people living in hotter climates compared to colder climates.
It is important to check the radiant barriers periodically to ensure they are working properly. If you do not, radiant barriers can collect dust and stop reflecting the heat from the sun.
Ventilation
Having attic ventilation is important to prevent your attic from becoming hotter. You need two different parts for a balanced ventilation system: an intake vent and an exhaust vent.
The first part is intake vents. These vents allow cool air to enter the home and are installed in soffits.
The second part is exhaust vents. These vents allow hot air to leave your home. These vents include ridge vents, static vents, and power exhausted vents.
Find a variety of intake and exhaust vents today at HomElectrical!
Insulation
Adding the proper amount of insulation is also a way to keep your attic cool. Attic Insulation acts as a protective barrier of air that prevents heat from transferring to the attic.
Insulation is very helpful and there are even different types of insulation. These include blanket insulation, spray foam insulation, loose fill insulation and others.
Insulation is typically measured by the R-value which is the number indicating the ability to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the resistance will be.
Installing insulation requires professional service. Contact an attic insulation contractor or business to ensure your insulation meets local and federal codes.
Attic Cooling Fans
Attic cooling fans are also a way to keep an attic cool. There are a couple of different types to choose from. You can choose from whole house fans or attic vent fans.
Whole-House Fans
Whole-House fans are useful if they are installed at the top of your home. These fans can pull the heat and moisture from the attic back toward the lower levels of the house.
While house fans can be great options for homes with adequate ventilation, they may not be the best fan to use in homes with poor ventilation systems.
Attic Vent fans
An attic vent fan removes indoor air and pulls in fresh air from the outside. Attic fans are helpful because they are cheaper, and they help reduce cooling costs.
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What causes hot attics?
During the hotter months of the year, most attics become very hot and uncomfortable. This unbearable heat is due to many reasons.
Heat Rising
Your attic can get hot because rising heat in the home. In most spaces, cool air pushes hot air upwards to the highest level of the home.
Unfortunately, in many homes this process pushes the hot air from the living space to the attic. Over time, as heat travels, the heat builds up and the attic begins to overheat and becomes unbearable.
Heat from Rooftops
The heat from rooftops is also a common cause of unbearable heat in attics. Rooftops help protect indoors from the outdoor elements as well as heat from the sun.
However, heat still seeps into the cracks and heats the attic. Eventually, the heat builds up and can add to the existing heat in the attic.
Improper Insulation and Ventilation
Having improper insulation is another reason for attics staying hot. If attics have improper or no insulation, they will absorb more heat from the lower floors and rooftops. This will increase the temperature through radiant heat transfer.
This can increase the risk of damage and fire in your attic. It can also lead to air conditioners working harder because cold air is escaping through the areas needing insulation.
Improper ventilation is also an issue with most attics. Ventilation systems remove heat from homes and other spaces creating room for cooler, comfortable air. However, with improper attic ventilation, heat is trapped in the attic, contributing to the overheating.
Negative effects of Attic Overheating
Overheating attics have negative effects on homes and personal belongings. For instance, if the attic is used for storage, the items in the attic could potentially be destroyed.
Attics can become as hot as 150 degrees Fahrenheit. This can melt plastics, rubber and even electrical wires in the attic. It can also lead to electrical fires.
Overheating attics also reduce energy efficiency in your home. HVAC systems and air conditioning units will have to work harder to cool the attic. This, in turn, leads to higher utility bills and less energy savings.
Why is it important to cool your attic?
While attics may be forgotten, there are many benefits to keeping them cool. The benefits include:
- Keeping Moisture Away
- Decreasing Home Temperature
- Reducing Energy Consumption
- Extending Roof Life
Keeping Moisture Away
Continuous extreme heat levels can cause moisture building up in your attic. This will lead to mold and damage to the attic that can be prevented.
By keeping it cool in the attic, you are also controlling the humidity levels. This will help decrease the likelihood of moisture building up. If you have a smart thermostat, you can check the attic’s temperature and humidity levels from anywhere.
Decreasing Home Temperature
By cooling the temperature in the attic, you will help decrease the temperature in your home. Attics that do not have proper insulation or ventilation can push heat to lower levels in the home. By keeping the attic cool, the lower levels will not increase in heat.
Reducing Energy Consumption
Hot air that moves from the attic increases the amount of time it takes for HVAC systems to cool down the lower levels. This means HVAC systems would run for longer periods of time which increases energy bills.
To stop this from happening, your attic needs to stay at moderate temps throughout the day.
Extending Roof Life
The roof life of a home is also affected by the temperature in the attic. Most roofs deteriorate over time. However, the deterioration process will speed up with heat and moisture build up in the attic. To prevent this from happening, ensure your attic temperature is cool.
In Summary
Keeping an attic cool is important for keeping the rest of your home cool and safe from any potential damage. Hopefully, this blog helped you see the best ways to keep an attic cool.
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