On a summer afternoon, the sun bakes the roof and the attic can get far hotter than the air outside. All that heat pushes down through the ceiling, and your air conditioner has to remove it.
Moving the hot air out
Good attic ventilation lets that heat escape so the attic stays closer to the outdoor temperature. Two common options:
- Roof-mounted fans pull hot air out through the roof while cooler air comes in through the soffit vents.
- Gable fans sit on opposite ends of the attic, one pulling air in and one pushing it out.
Solar-powered fans are popular because they run hardest when the sun is out, which is exactly when the attic heats up, and they add nothing to the power bill.
Moisture is the other problem
A closed-up attic also traps moisture from cooking, showers, and humid outdoor air. Left there, it feeds mold and can ruin insulation.
Seal the ceiling first
An attic fan only helps if the ceiling between your rooms and the attic is sealed. Gaps around lights, vents and the attic hatch let the fan pull your cooled air straight out of the house. Check and seal those first, then add ventilation.
If you think your attic is cooking your AC, call us and we will take a look.
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