Our home is where we should enjoy complete comfort. Certain factors, such as a hot attic, can compromise comfort levels in home. It is vital to maintain a cool attic. Besides, if the attic is stuffy and hot, this is an indication of sharply increasing energy bill.

Become an expert of buying the best attic ladder (follow the link)

In this post, I will show you several ways to cool down your attic. On a hot, humid summer afternoon, your attic could reach anywhere between 120 – 150 Fahrenheit or even more heated. Too much hot can seriously damage your roof. A scorching hot attic may make your AC unit struggle during summer. This can render higher energy costs and, I am sure you do not want that.

10

Use Roof Coatings

Using roof coatings is an excellent way to lessen the amount of energy required to cool your hot attic. Most of the roof coatings possess reflective properties. Thus, when the sun’s ultraviolet rays strike your attic roof, the layer helps reflecting it.

09

Install an Additional Air Conditioner to your House

If you use your attic space often, it may be useful to install another air conditioner for your house. You can also extend your central air cooling system to include your attic.

08

Clean your Ductwork

There are lots of reasons to clean the air ducts within your space. When your pipes are clean, your cooling systems work more efficiently.

07

Install Attic fans

Attic fans can help push out hot air from your attic room. Consider installing thermostats so the fans will turn on automatically at a set temperature. I personally prefer using quiet cooling attic fans. This is because they are easy to install and are highly energy efficient.

An energy-saving landscape uses shrubs, trees, vines, and ground covers to provide a cooling and peaceful summer shade. Planting trees and shrubs carefully and with accuracy around your house will help keep your attic considerably cooler.

05

Use Radiant Barriers

The use of radiant barriers is a low cost and effective way of keeping your attic cool. A radiant barrier is a kind of building material, usually a sheet or coating that reflects heat energy. Your local professional can apply this material beneath your roof to reflect the sun’s hot rays. This barrier will help maintain a suitable attic temperature even during the scorching summer months.

04

Take care of air leaks

Most likely, your attic has several small air leaks. These leaks can cause your loft to become very hot during the summer. They can also result in loss of heat during winter. If you need help finding and plugging air leaks in your attic, consult a reliable home repair and remodeling company.

03

Plan your attic Ventilation

You must have excellent and functional attic ventilation if you want a cool home during the summer. A correctly vented attic allows natural airflow and move heated air out of your space. If your attic does not have a vent, my advice is to speak with a professional on how to install one. Here’s my guide on choosing the right attic window.

02

Give Your Roof a Revamp

Black roof shingles can absorb heat. And, most of that heat will naturally flow into your attic space. If you wish to stop this, a little makeover of your roof will do the trick. Investing in reflective shingles is a great way to achieve this.

01

Insulate the Attic

You must insulate the attic properly, whether you use it or not. Insulation is simply the physical barrier between the external environment and your home. I know many homeowners who spend loads of money on energy to keep their houses cool during summer.

What these homeowners do not understand is, improper insulation might be working against them. An attic that is not adequately insulated can allow heat to flow into the space. This can cause your attic to heat up, and your entire home might heat up eventually. This typically occurs if your attic floor is not insulated. Your cooling bill will undoubtedly go up as a result of this.

Here’s the benefits of an insulated attic. Looking for inspirations to make the most use of your loft? Here’s my guide on that. Or maybe just want to convert unfinished attic into a storage area. (Here’s how you do it).

What is the best way to keep the attic cool?

The best method to keep your attic cool is by ensuring your attic is properly vented. Why did I say this? Well, a properly vented attic helps prevent heat build-up, particularly during summer. Below are some proven practical methods to add ventilation to a loft.

  • Soffits

    These are intake vents, and they are handy for ventilating an attic. They are typically fitted beneath the overhang of your roof.

  • Gable Vent

    A gable is that section on a roof where two edges meet and create a triangle. You can have proper ventilation in your attic by adding a slotted wooden piece to this section of your roof.

  • Ridge Vent

    This type of vent is fitted at the peak (ridge) of a roof. Ridge vents allow humid air to flow out of a building’s attic efficiently.

How to Cool an Attic Bedroom?

Adding an attic bedroom is an excellent way to add “free” square footage to your property without the annoyance of a significant remodel. However, sometimes, heat in your attic bedroom can become unbearable, particularly during summer. The following methods have worked for me, and they can work for you too.

  • Do a roof assessment

    Check to see that the surface of your attic’s roof is reflective. A reflective roof prevents the heat of the sun from transferring into your attic bedroom. If yours is not, I recommend you invest a bit in reflective shingles. Download roof assessment guideline by FEMA from here

  • Seal door and window gaps

    Such gaps and cracks allow outside hot air to flow into your attic bedroom. So, find such openings and seal them very well.

  • Install Oscillating fans

    If your attic has no insulation, installing oscillating fans is the simplest way to keep it cool. My attic bedroom is pretty extensive, and I found that installing two oscillating fans rather than one produced better results.

How to Keep a Finished Attic Cool

My attic office doesn’t have air conditioning, and I spend quite a lot of time on it. If yours is like mine, here are two effective ways to beat the heat even during the hot summer months.

  • Change the materials of your roof covering

    ou know that dark colors soak up heat faster than light colors. Does the content of your present roof include dark gray or black roofing shingles? If you answered yes, then my recommendation is that you switch materials or colors.

  • Install Ventilation

    Proper ventilation will help remove the hot air from your room. An attic fan forces the hot air out of your space while a roof vent allows it to escape by convection. Consult with a reliable HVAC service as they can help you with either choice.

Accessing the attic is crucial. Here’s my guide on choosing the best attic stair and here’s how you install it.

How Much Does Attic Cooling Cost?

Attic cooling cost depends on several factors, including the size of your attic. Over the years, I have found that natural ventilation is the most cost-effective way to cool down my attic.

Install attic vents to enable natural ventilation. These vents function through the natural movement of cold and hot air. You won’t need to spend money to operate them. Any of the following methods will suffice to vent your attic.

  • Continuous Ridge Vents
  • Gable Vents
  • Whirlybirds
  • Soffit vents

You will spend on average between $250 and $650 to install a roof vent, including materials and labor. Precise rates depend on number of units, size and type you choose to install. A roofing professional can help you ascertain the best option for your attic.

Will Attic Fan Cool My House? How?

Generally, there are two types of attic fans – powered attic ventilators and whole-house fans. The Powered attic ventilator, also called a ventilation fan, is specially designed to cool an attic. On the other hand, the whole house fan is explicitly designed to cool your entire house at night using air from the outside.

A whole house fan is usually installed on the attic floor. Before using the whole house fan, you need to close the windows in your house. When you switch on the device, it draws in outside air through the windows. When the air absorbs heat, it rises naturally to your attic, where it is vented out via the roof vents. (This is why you should definitely install roof vents).

The benefits of maintaining a cool attic temperature are quite apparent. It helps preserve your roof, makes your living space cozier, and reduces your energy bills. So why wait any longer, cool down your attic this summer, and start enjoying significant savings on your energy bills.

Save this post in your “Attic Cooling Hacks” board in Pinterest for future reference. Feel free to contribute in my “Smart Living” Pinterest board.

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