With heat rising from the living areas below and radiating from the underside of the roof, the attic in a typical home can become quite hot during the peak of summer. Not only can this increase your energy costs by making your air conditioner work harder, but it can also shorten the life of the roof and significantly impact your comfort. Taking steps to prevent the attic from overheating can be a great way to save money in the summer and can also improve heating performance during the cold Minnesota winters.
Need help regulating the temperature in your attic? Call Metro Home Insulation & Waterproofing today at (763) 400-8616 or contact us online for expert advice and the latest high-performance insulation solutions. We serve the entire Minneapolis-St. Paul area!
Tips to Cool Your Attic in the Summer
When your attic is excessively hot, that heat can radiate through the floor into the rest of your home, raising the temperature, increasing your cooling costs, and adding extra wear and tear to your air conditioner. Likewise, the additional heat on the underside of the roof can cause asphalt shingles to degrade faster, decreasing the roof’s lifespan. To improve your comfort, save energy, and reduce repair costs, consider these three strategies to keep your attic cooler:
1. Add Insulation
Many homes in the St. Paul area have less than the recommended amount of attic insulation, which is R-49 to R-60 in this part of the country, according to the U.S. Department of Energy guidelines. To increase the insulation in an unfinished attic, add fiberglass batts, blown-in cellulose, or blown-in fiberglass to the existing insulation. For finished attics, add fiberglass batts or spray-foam insulation to knee walls and rafter bays, taking care to maintain proper ventilation between the eaves and ridges by adding baffles where necessary. At Metro Home Insulation, we can help you determine the best insulation strategy, and we can provide an energy-efficient, high-performance installation.
2. Improve Ventilation
Airflow is important in an attic to eliminate excess heat and protect the roof from damage. Make sure that you have plenty of soffit vents, and that they are not blocked by insulation or debris to ensure to allow free flow of air from the eaves to the ridge. If you do not have a ridge vent, consider adding vents to the roof deck, or installing vents in the gable ends. For additional ventilation, consider adding powered ventilation fans to the gable vents.
3. Seal Air Leaks
Heat naturally rises, and if there are any openings between the living area and the attic, heat and moisture will accumulate faster in the attic. Use caulk or expanding foam insulation to seal around plumbing vents, pipe openings, and electrical wires. Have a professional seal chimney or flue openings with flashing and high-temperature caulk. Fill soffits for recessed lighting with insulation if the fixtures are rated for insulation contact, or build baffles around those that are not. For help sealing all the air leaks in your attic, contact Metro Home Insulation.
Insulation & Air Sealing in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
If you would like to make your Minneapolis home as energy-efficient as possible, look no further than our team at Metro Home Insulation. Our insulation and air sealing services can help to reduce your utility costs, save energy, and improve your comfort. We serve homeowners throughout Minneapolis, St. Cloud, St. Paul, Elk River, Brooklyn Park, and the surrounding communities.
Call (763) 400-8616 or contact us online to schedule an appointment for insulation or air sealing services today!
