Your Attic Can Become a Dangerous Heat Trap in the Summer

If you think the heat outside is unbearable, don't climb up to your attic in the summer, especially if the space isn't ventilated. Trapped heat in your upper level can make the temperatures soar well beyond the outside air temperature. That excess heat can damage items stored in your attic and impact your home's cooling system.

This May Also Interest You: Got Gable Vents? Here’s What You Need to Know About Your Attic’s Airflow

How Hot Can an Attic Get in the Summer?

The temperature in your attic can reach 150 degrees Fahrenheit if the space isn't properly ventilated. Radiant heat from the sun contributes to the high attic temperatures in many homes. As the sun warms up the roofing materials, the heat transfers inside your home. Attic temperatures may also increase due to heat rising from the rest of the home to the top level.

The exact attic temperature in the summer depends on the outside temperature, how sunny it is and whether you have ventilation in the space. A lack of ventilation keeps the heat trapped in your attic, allowing the temperature to increase.

Why Is the Heat Level in an Attic Dangerous?

An overheated attic can cause issues on your roof and inside your home. Asphalt shingles often become damaged from the heat in the upper level of your home. You might notice warping, cracking and other signs of deterioration, which means you'll need to replace your roof sooner.

Hot summer air is often humid, which encourages mold to grow on all surfaces in your attic. High humidity also affects wood, which could cause your roof rafters to deteriorate or warp. Moisture often attracts pests, potentially causing an infestation in your attic.

Excessive heat in your attic also affects your HVAC system. Having a hot space above your head can make your living spaces feel warmer. That means you'll need to run your AC more to cool the rooms effectively. In some homes, HVAC ductwork runs through the attic. If the ducts aren't insulated or have gaps in them, the hot attic air often heats up the cooled air running through the ducts. Your home may feel warmer and less comfortable because of that effect.

Because your HVAC system has to work harder, it uses more energy just to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. That excess work also increases strain on various parts in your AC, which could wear out the system faster than normal. You may find you need to call for HVAC repairs more often or need to replace your system sooner than normal.

More Related Articles:

• 5 Insulation Tips to Save Energy and Money

• How to Insulate Your Attic in 7 Steps

• How Much Does Attic Insulation Cost?

• Attic Fans Vs. Whole-House Fans: What They Do and How They Differ

• What to Expect When They're Inspecting: Your Home-Inspection Checklist

How Do You Cool Down an Attic?

Ventilation is often the key to a lower attic temperature in the summer. You can install passive vents, such as gable vents on opposite ends of the attic, to allow air to pass through the space. Ridge vents are also an option that's installed on your roof. Powered options are also available. Attic fans help circulate air and remove heat from the space. They often use a thermostat to control when they run so your attic maintains an ideal temperature.

Ventilation also helps in the winter. Keeping the attic space cooler prevents the risk of ice dams, which form when a warm attic melts snow on your roof. The melted snow refreezes and causes damaging ice to form.

Radiant barriers installed underneath your roof help reduce the impact of radiant heat on your attic's temperature. They reflect the heat back out of the attic instead of letting the heat transfer into the space.

In addition to cooling your attic space, you can take steps to minimize the impact on your HVAC system. Repairing and insulating ducts that run through the attic help the air inside them stay cool until it reaches the rooms in your home. Adding insulation to the attic creates a barrier between it and your living spaces, which cuts down on how much heat transfers into your home. That can make your living spaces feel cooler and cut down on how much your HVAC system has to run.