My Attic Is Extremely Hot

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

My attic is extremely hot.

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. It works together with the attic insulation which will ensure hot air does not enter the attic from outside. It s important to remember that there are lots of different types of attic ventilation. 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.

Just make sure the ceiling is airtight and fully insulated and the temperature in the attic doesn t matter much. Not the overabundance but the lack of insulation in the attic. You can t have too much ventilation. The natural air flow created by a properly vented attic will move hot air out of the home.

Within the attic insulation is a must. An unventilated attic can reach 150 degrees in the heat of summer 50 degrees higher than it should be. A thick insulation between 14 to 18 inches will help reduce heat from entering your home. Roof shingles absorb a great deal of the sun s heat especially if they re dark in color.

Ventilation is important to give moisture within the attic a way to escape. An overheated attic can bake asphalt shingles on the roof and cause them to deteriorate. 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. It will always be hot in the attic if it is warm outside.

A hot attic is bad for several reasons. Another reason your attic is so hot is because of insulation. High temperatures inside your attic shorten the life span of shingles. And it can cause your air conditioner to work harder than it needs to and send your energy bills soaring with the temperature.

Excessive heat deteriorates items you store in the attic and can cause moisture.