The ideal attic temperature should be no less than 60 degrees in the winter and no more than 10 to 20 degrees above the outdoor temperature in the summer. If your attic temperature climbs above degrees, you may start running into issues with your energy bill, as well as the integrity of your roof. Yes, your attic should and will be hot in the summer.
It is generally not recommended to keep your attic door open unless your entire home is naturally ventilated and not air-conditioned. Even in those instances, it may be better to simply open the windows on either side of the attic and keep the door closed.
Here at MEI, we want to help you find the best way to cool your attic, not just for your comfort or savings but for the health of the planet as a whole. Check out this article on how to choose between roofing contractors.
Skip to content. If you ever feel hot air coming from the attic, you may ask yourself questions such as: Should I keep my attic door open? What should an attic temperature be? Will cooling my attic cool my house? How to keep an attic bedroom cool in the summer? What is an attic? Convection: This is the primary method for how to cool an attic. Soffit vents draw in hot air as it rises and expel it through the peak.
Radiant Heat: This is the main contributor to how hot attics can get. Thermodynamics: This transfer of heat takes place between the shingles and interior sheathing and from there to the joists, insulation, boxes, and surrounding air. If you want to know how to cool an attic bedroom especially, here are your answers: Roofing Ventilation Insulation Radiant Barriers Roofing Choice The next time you need to repair or replace your roof, consider how your choice of roofing material and color will affect your attic temperature.
Ventilation Check When most people think of how to cool down an attic, ventilation is typically the first solution to surface. There are many different types of insulation available: Blown-in cellulose Rolls of fiberglass Spray foam Sturdy foam boards Each will give you a different protection rating and come at a different cost depending on the size of your attic.
Radiant Barrier Radiant barriers are another popular solution for those who seek to keep their attic cool in the summer. How Hot Do Attics Get? Portable air conditioners do need to be vented to pump the hot air outside. Most come with a window kit for this purpose that attaches to a hose on the back of the unit. However, you may not have a window in your attic. Also, check out our portable air conditioner venting options to get some more ideas on the setup.
This line set attaches to an outdoor compressor unit that powers the indoor evaporator cooler. And that can be through the roof, a soffit, brick, or siding. Check out our best mini split AC unit list if this seems like a better solution for cooling your attic. When it comes to the best way to cool attic with or without an air conditioner, you need to ensure that any cracks, gaps, or holes are taken care of. As you can imagine, leaving any open areas will allow warm air to seep into your attic during the summer.
In addition, allowing cracks, gaps, and holes to remain open throughout the space increases the chances of water getting into your attic—and this can cause water damage and rot. If the holes, cracks, or gaps in your attic are less than one-quarter of an inch, you can use a weatherproof caulk to seal them. If you have a chimney and notice issues around this structure, make sure to use a heat-resistant caulk to seal these holes.
The R-Value is determined by the following factors:. In general, the R-Values you should be looking for are the following:. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to R38 or about 10 to 14 inches depending on the insulation type, according to Energy Star. This type of unit goes in an upstairs ceiling, ideally in a central hall. When run at night with the windows open, the fan will pull cool air into the house as it vents hot air out through the attic.
Most models are designed to slip in between joists for easy installation. If you install one, be sure to get an insulated box to cover the portal in winter. As much as 20 percent of summer heat enters your home as sunlight shining through windows.
To cut "solar gain," add curtains or blinds to rooms that get direct sun and draw them in daylight hours. With the shades drawn, a well-insulated house will gain only 1 degree per hour when outdoor temperatures are above 85 degrees. Pay special attention to west-facing rooms late in the day.
Two exterior options are to install awnings or plant shade trees. A programmable thermostat lets you preset temperatures for different times of the day, so air-conditioning is working only when you are home. These thermostats come with complete directions and are easy to install. Just remove the old thermostat, unscrewing the wire leads attached to the terminals on the back. AA batteries maintain the settings if the power ever goes off.
Any appliance that generates heat adds to your cooling load. An oven baking cookies can easily raise the room temperature 10 degrees, which in turn jacks up overall cooling costs 2 to 5 percent. Save cooking especially baking for cooler hours, or cook outdoors on your grill.
It is also a good idea to run the dishwasher and clothes dryer at night. Incandescent bulbs don't contribute as much heat as unshaded windows, but they do add heat to a house and can raise the perceived temperature, sending you to the thermostat to seek relief. To reduce this hot-light effect and save lighting costs year-round, replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents.
They use about 75 percent less energy and emit 90 percent less heat. Leaky ducts can cut into air-conditioning efficiency. Ductwork must be balanced between the supply and return sides of the system in order for it to work safely and efficiently, so making a repair in one section can cause a problem in another.
Leak-prone areas include the return plenum; where branch ducts meet the trunk line; and where ducts attach to outlets. Also, insulate ducts that run through a hot attic with a blanket of R fiberglass insulation. Unless the duct repairs are minor, it's wise to leave them to a HVAC pro.
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