What s happening is called reverse stack effect.
Finished attic too hot.
Since parts of a finished attic are usually very close to the roof.
Not only will airsealing not going to make your top floor finished attic hotter in summer it is in fact the only thing that will make it cooler up there.
If hot air is allowed to sit in your attic it could overheat the shingles on your roof and cause damage.
Combine this with the hot air rising from the lower floors and you re looking at a perfect recipe for uncomfortable upstairs environments.
Without properly ventilating the roof your finished space can be just as unpleasant as an unfinished attic.
Attic spaces are typically very hot in the summer and very cold through the winter.
An overheated attic can bake asphalt shingles on the roof and cause them to deteriorate.
But by adding powered attic fans you will draw more air into the attic.
It will help to keep the attic much cooler in the summertime.
And it can cause your air conditioner to work harder than it needs to and send your energy bills soaring with the temperature.
Without properly insulating your finished attic room will also be cold in the winter.
Your air conditioners are creating cooler drier denser air which sinks to the bottom of the house.
The thermostat will usually start at 95 degrees fahrenheit which is the temperature that the attic fan usually starts at.
Another reason your attic is so hot is because of insulation.
Poor insulation is usually the culprit although if you enter the attic on sunny winter day your attic space can be warmed by the sun more than your furnace.
Using insulation only keeps the attic s heat from traveling through your home.
Using the current hvac system.
When the attic and attic access are not properly sealed and insulated the hot air coming in through the roof can leak into the lower floors of the home.
Just make sure the ceiling is airtight and fully insulated and the temperature in the attic doesn t matter much.
Because attics are naturally prone to being the hottest space in the house during summer and the coldest space in the house during winter having a working heating and cooling system is a must in a converted attic.
Having a properly vented attic is the best way to keep attic cool because it allows the hot air to escape during the summer.
Within the attic insulation is a must.
Not the overabundance but the lack of insulation in the attic.
When finishing an attic the biggest question is often how to regulate the temperature.
In addition hot air in your attic could increase moisture levels which could result in wood rot and mold growth.
Whether it s 110 f or 130 f there s not much difference in the amount of heat flowing from the attic to the living space below.
A thick insulation between 14 to 18 inches will help reduce heat from entering your home.
