Why Does Attic Heat Matter?
Attics are an often forgotten space – out of sight and out of mind. So, why should you care about the heat in a space you rarely go into? Just because you can’t see the problem doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Attic heat can can create damage and is extremely energy inefficient.
In the summer months, attic temperatures in most of the United States can soar to upwards of 150 degrees. That is hotter than most people realize. This heat begins with the sun radiating onto your roof and fills into the attic space. Then, the framing of the house absorbs the heat and transfers some of it into the living space of the home.
Heat within your attic can be costly. In the most extreme situations, the heat can be so intense that roof shingles deteriorate and insulation degrades. Additionally, all of the items stored in the attic risk getting destroyed by heat damage.
More than anything, attic heat is not energy efficient. As the heat within the living space increases, the workload of the AC unit also increases. This heavy workload is inefficient in energy usage and therefore costly in your electricity bill. Additionally, the heat overtaxes the unit itself resulting in potential damage to the system or a decreased life expectancy.
Improving Your Attic Space
Reducing attic heat is all about energy efficiency. In order to reduce attic heat, there are a few important improvements you should address in your attic.
- Seal all cracks and openings between your living space and attic.
- Check to make sure your attic is properly insulated.
- Ensure effective ventilation is in place.
These three steps create an important barrier between your living and attic spaces. Consequently, this limits the the heat transfer between your attic and conditioned spaces.
There are a few things to consider as you make these improvements. According to Energy Star, homeowners often make the mistake of adding so much insulation that it covers and blocks soffit openings. You don’t want to do this! Blocked soffits prevent the outside air from blowing into the attic to create the necessary air movement. With proper ventilation, the cooler and fresher outside air blows in, and the hot air exhausts out through the highest points of the attic. Using outside air in the summer doesn’t make the air in the attic cold or even very comfortable. It’s going to be HOT! In the attic, you can’t easily feel the difference between 120 degrees and 140 degrees – you just feel way too hot. But keep in mind, that’s the same difference as 80 degrees and 100 degrees. You can certainly feel a twenty degree temperature difference there.
Reducing Attic Heat with ATMOX
How do you reduce attic heat? The answer is simple. Exchange the air in the attic with fresh outside air when the outside air is “better”.
Attic fans create the air movement. However, the ATMOX Attic Controller knows when the air is “better.” Sensors measure temperature and humidity to bring important information to the controller. Like many attic ventilation setups, the fans will run when the inside temperature is high to reduce heat. The logic in the controller is more than just a simple on/off set point. Based on conditions, the attic fans may run longer to further cool the attic down as long as the outside air is beneficial. These additional run parameters are often in cool night time air. The ATMOX controller creates an environment where the fans can be better utilized to cool the attic without creating the risk of added humidity.
ATMOX products work together to tackle attic heat in the most energy efficient way. The controller with sensors direct operation of the fans and provide a notification tool for homeowners. The attic fans are energy efficient and quiet. Most attic setups will use less than 150 watts of power when running. (It’s about the same as two old-fashioned light bulbs). Compare that energy usage to other attic fans on the market and you will see quite a difference.
Houses have different construction styles, so the ATMOX fans have various mounting options to accommodate those differences. Ventilation can be customized to flow through a ridge vent, gable, soffit or roof deck. ATMOX fans spread out the airflow to ventilate evenly throughout the entire attic space.
The goal is to reduce excessive heat in the summer and prevent potential moisture issues in the winter. Learn more about a typical ATMOXsphere setup in your geographic area.
