Attic So Hot It Heats The House

What do you think.

Attic so hot it heats the house.

If hot air is allowed to sit in your attic it could overheat the shingles on your roof and cause damage. And it can cause your air conditioner to work harder than it needs to and send your energy bills soaring with the temperature. An unventilated attic can reach 150 degrees in the heat of summer 50 degrees higher than it should be. A hot attic is bad for several reasons.

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. Excessive heat deteriorates items you store in the attic and can cause moisture. Unless your roofing system has insulation on the roofing deck and is designed without ventilation your furnace should not be heating your attic. The thermostat will usually start at 95 degrees fahrenheit which is the temperature that the attic fan usually starts at.

This results in higher cooling bills and the need for thicker insulation above the ceiling. Within the attic insulation is a must. An overheated attic can bake asphalt shingles on the roof and cause them to deteriorate. Having a properly vented attic is the best way to keep attic cool because it allows the hot air to escape during the summer.

But by adding powered attic fans you will draw more air into the attic. Not the overabundance but the lack of insulation in the attic. 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.

Another problem is any ducting in the attic will be heated and the heat will transfer into any the duct and warm any cool air moving through it and into the home. It would need a damper to keep from losing heat when not in use. High temperatures inside your attic shorten the life span of shingles. In addition hot air in your attic could increase moisture levels which could result in wood rot and mold growth.

If you had a thermostat in the house and in the attic so that it would only run when you need heat and the attic is hot. 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.