You may not realize it, but if your attic isn’t properly ventilated, its temperature can reach a whopping 150 degrees on a hot summer day. Even if you don’t use your attic as a living space, it’s important to keep its temperature at or below 110 degrees. If not, then your roof’s shingles can overheat and fall apart! Moreover, an excessively hot attic can send your air conditioning system into overdrive,
causing your energy costs to skyrocket.
Tips for Cooling a Hot Attic
With all of that said, here are some tips for cooling a hot attic:

  1. Add electric ventilators & attic fans

    These devices work to remove hot air from your attic. With built-in thermostats, they’ll make sure the temperature of your attic never exceeds 110 degrees. The fans will also turn off once the desired temperature is achieved.

  2. Or use a more affordable alternative

    Gable, soffit and ridge vents — known as “passive vents” — are simply openings in the roof. They’ll let hot air escape on its own, without using any electricity.

  3. Make sure you’ve installed enough insulation

    There should be one square foot of venting zone for every 300 square feet of attic space. That goes for electric ventilators, attic fans and passive vents.

  4. Don’t forget to insulate
    Make sure you have enough insulation in your attic. Its R-factor should be 19 or higher. Installing insulation will prevent hot air from your attic from seeping into your house.

If you’ve taken these steps and your home still isn’t cooling off properly, contact Rusk Heating & Cooling. The problem could be with your air conditioning! Our friendly technicians will be there fast, ready to make your home comfortable once again. For more tips and tricks from Rusk Heating & Cooling, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.