Note excessive heat – if it's 90 degrees outside, the attic temperature shouldn't be more than 110 degrees. More often than not, attic temperatures will be in excess of 125 degrees on a 90 degree day. This will overwork your air conditioning equipment, run up your utility bill and shorten the life of your roof.
Ideally, the attic temperature should be close to the outside temperature, give or take 10 to 20 degrees. If your attic temperature is getting to 130 degrees or hotter, you can expect to see damage to your home. An attic can easily surpass this target in warm climates, getting as high as 160 degrees in the summer.
On a 100-degree day, an attic can reach temperatures of 170 degrees or more due to the radiant heat effect.
An unventilated attic can reach 150 degrees in the heat of summer -- 50 degrees higher than it should be. An overheated attic can bake asphalt shingles on the roof and cause them to deteriorate.
If your attic temperature is consistently hitting 130 degrees or hotter, damage to your home and a high utility bill is very likely. You can keep a thermometer in your attic to check – it doesn't have to be an expensive one and will give you a better idea of how hot things really are.
Note excessive heat – if it's 90 degrees outside, the attic temperature shouldn't be more than 110 degrees. More often than not, attic temperatures will be in excess of 125 degrees on a 90 degree day. This will overwork your air conditioning equipment, run up your utility bill and shorten the life of your roof.
These essential systems can occasionally overheat and catch fire. The danger is more severe in the summer when your attic is already really hot. Dust and other debris build up in the ducts of these systems, adding to the likelihood and speed of a fire spreading.
By improving ventilation in your home's attic, installing an attic fan can help reduce moisture and even lower the temperature within your entire house.
Monitor Attic Temperature: Use a digital thermometer or smart home technology to monitor the attic temperature regularly. This allows you to identify any deviations from the desired range and take corrective action promptly.
There's no doubt attic ventilation can impact the effectiveness of the air conditioning system. Removing the built-up heat inside the attic that radiates from the sun baking the roof is essential. Otherwise, that heat can transfer into the living space which increases the burden on the AC system.
Add a few fans
Fans are an easy and affordable way to reduce heat in your attic, as they help to create a draft and make the room feel cooler. Switching on a few electric fans for an hour or two a day helps the air circulate through the room, eventually pushing the hot air out.
Research shows sleep can be disrupted by temperatures anywhere below 65 degrees Fahrenheit or above 75 degrees Fahrenheit. But for most people, heat interferes with sleep more than cold does. Sleep experts believe the best temperature for great sleep is between 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit.
The two species that have no issue with the heat of attics are bats and snakes.
Energy Efficiency: Setting the thermostat to 78-80 degrees can help save energy and reduce utility bills. Raising the thermostat during extremely hot days can save you up to 10-15% on your cooling costs, depending on factors like your home's insulation and your AC's efficiency level.
Ventilation Problems
Although it does blow hot air out, it also pulls cool air from the rest of the house through ceiling and wall leaks. When this happens, your house's cold air is cooling the attic, rather than your living area.
Rafter vents should be placed in your attic ceiling in between the rafters at the point where your attic ceiling meets your attic floor. Once they are in place, you can then place the batts or blankets, or blow insulation, right out to the very edge of the attic floor.
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 130 degrees, you may start running into issues with your energy bill, as well as the integrity of your roof.
The usual things that are inspected in attics include the condition of the roof framing and decking materials that cover the framing. These are inspected for proper installation, apparent damage, and water stains resulting from roof leakage. Insulation and ventilation are also evaluated.
Why are attic fans not used anymore? Due to inefficiencies in relying on existing attic vents for air intake, attic fans have lost popularity. These vents often aren't designed for this purpose, resulting in inadequate replacement air supply.
The primary function of attic fans is to promote airflow within the attic, which can help reduce temperature and moisture levels and provide several valuable benefits.
Electrical malfunction is the leading cause of residential building attic fires (43 percent), followed by natural fires (16 percent). A third of all residential building attic fires spread to involve the entire building.
To prevent insect infestations, make sure that your boxes are completely clean and free of food remnants or crumbs that could attract all sorts of bugs. Be sure to avoid storing your corrugated boxes in a location that may have a higher risk for fire, such as an attic.
What forms of heat transfer are occurring when an attic heats up on a summer day? Primarily, radiation is what causes warm attic spaces.