My Attic Is Extremely Hot

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.

My attic is extremely hot.

An overheated attic can bake asphalt shingles on the roof and cause them to deteriorate. It works together with the attic insulation which will ensure hot air does not enter the attic from outside. An unventilated attic can reach 150 degrees in the heat of summer 50 degrees higher than it should be. High temperatures inside your attic shorten the life span of shingles.

If you suspect your ventilation isn t doing its best to keep your attic cool talk to an expert to find out if you need an update. Not the overabundance but the lack of insulation in the attic. It will always be hot in the attic if it is warm outside. A hot attic is bad for several reasons.

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. 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. An attic needs to be ventilated or you will drastically reduce the life of the shingles and roof deck too.

It s important to remember that there are lots of different types of attic ventilation. A thick insulation between 14 to 18 inches will help reduce heat from entering your home. You can t have too much ventilation. Excessive heat deteriorates items you store in the attic and can cause moisture.

The natural air flow created by a properly vented attic will move hot air out of the home. Whether it s 110 f or 130 f there s not much difference in the amount of heat flowing from the attic to the living space below. Another reason your attic is so hot is because of insulation. Just make sure the ceiling is airtight and fully insulated and the temperature in the attic doesn t matter much.

Overcome the hot attic effect with the right home improvements even if your attic is too cold in the winter it s likely that the temperature inside your attic will still be higher than the temperature outside during summer months.