If you re serious about finding the best way to keep an attic cool this guide has the answers you need.
Best way to vent attic.
But before you cut any holes plan the locations of the attic vents.
Of net free area for every 150 sq.
It can do both.
The best way to vent an attic is to reduce the need for venting.
Below you ll find the top 7 best ways to cool your attic down.
Taking advantage of this natural process referred to as passive ventilation is the most common way to vent an attic.
Insulation at least r 38 or more is there for heating and.
Mark the roof venting locations from the attic where you can see the rafters and avoid placing roofing vents over them.
Photos 1 6 show how it s done.
Fans and vents may be installed on the roof system that will draw the air out of the attic space and exhaust it to the exterior.
For best results provide between 50 and 75 of the ventilation space at the eaves.
A 60 40 split is a good sweet spot.
We ll start with the easiest methods that most homeowners can do and work our way up to the more time consuming diy projects.
Adding attic vents is a simple matter of cutting holes and installing vents.
Luckily with today s building technology.
Of attic floor space.
In order to facilitate this exchange of warm and cool air the general rule.
This means for every 150 square feet of attic floor space there should be 1 square foot of net free area.
We supposedly vent attics to 1 remove moisture and 2 remove heat to lower air conditioning costs and increase roof shingle life.
These fans may be controlled by a switch or a thermostat which detects heat build up in the attic space and automatically exhausts the attic space.
A depressurized attic can suck conditioned air out of the living space and losing that conditioned air wastes money.
1 if we airseal the attic ceiling interface well very little moist house air and heat will get into the attic to cause condensation mould.
The code minimum for attic ventilation in the 2012 irc section r806 roof ventilation 1 is as follows.
I suggest you read some of the well written and informative articles by joseph lstiburek founding principal of building science corp for guidance on ventilation and insulation issues.
Ridge vent must me installed per the manufactures instructions.
Best way to cool an attic 1.
More ventilation at the eaves than at the ridge will slightly pressurize the attic.
Whole house fans powered attic fans.
One last thought attic ventilation is not there to get rid of heat it is there to get rid of excess moisture accumulating from the home.
Finding the best way to ventilate an attic in your home can become a real thermal nightmare.