Ventilation And Insulation: Your Prescription For An Attic That’s Spiking A Temp

If your home has seemed a bit under the weather and your bank account seems a bit sickly this summer, you may be interested to learn that a lack of ventilation and insulation in your attic is “patient zero.” Throughout the warmer months, your attic is capable of reaching temperatures as high as 200 degrees, which can negatively influence your energy bill. In order to remedy this problem you must strive to ensure that your attic is properly ventilated and insulated.

What’s the big deal about attic ventilation and insulation?

As hot air rises to your attic, it needs a way to get out. When your attic’s ventilation is lacking, that heat will continue to accumulate in your space until it radiates back into your home through your ceilings. Attic insulation is intended to block any heat in the space from returning to your living quarters; however, it can only do so if you have enough of it. In this way, your attic’s ventilation and insulation work together to keep your home cool and your A/C running efficiently.

Improving your attic’s ventilation and insulation

If you’re not sure if your attic is too hot, your roofing materials may hold the answer. A common sign of an overly heated attic is asphalt shingles curled up on the ends. It is important that your attic’s vents are also free of any clogs or debris that may prevent air from flowing through them. You may also consider installing a simple and affordable attic fan. This will boost your cooling equipment’s performance with little to no home structural alterations.

As a rule, there should be enough insulation in the attic so that you do not see the floor joists. It is a good idea to work with an HVAC contractor to compare your current insulation’s R-value (its resistance to heat) against the R-value recommended by the U.S Department of Energy for the Orlando area. If your insulation is lacking, your contractor can recommend how much you need to add, and what type will serve you best.

For more advice on attic ventilation and insulation, contact the experts at Rinaldi’s Air Conditioning. We proudly serve the greater Orlando area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Orlando, Florida and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about ventilation and insulation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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