If you’re looking for ways to keep your home comfortably cool this summer, attic ventilation and insulation are two essentials that can have a big impact. Let’s take a closer look at why they’re so important:

The Value of Ventilation

During our steamy summer weather, proper airflow is critical to rid your attic of hot, humidity-laden air that damages your roofing and significantly increases your HVAC system’s cooling load. Installing soffit and gable vents can provide vital natural airflow. You can aid the process of cooling down the space by adding an attic fan to draw outdoor air in through the vents and push hot air out.

The Role of Insulation

If you don’t have sufficient attic insulation, the heat of the summer sun beating down on your roof transfers down through the ceilings into your living space. This makes it harder for your air conditioner to cool your home. It has to run longer, which increases your energy consumption and operating costs. Installing ample insulation can reduce this heat gain. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star guidelines recommend that homes in Coastal Georgia have a total of R-30 to R-60 of insulation installed on the floor of the attic.

You can improve your comfort and energy savings this summer by following these attic ventilation and insulation tips:

  • Seal up areas prone to air leakage, such as around recessed lighting, ducting, plumbing and electrical penetrations, and the chimney and access hatch.
  • Add rafter vents or insulation baffles to allow air to flow through the soffit vents. If the soffit vents are blocked, your attic is going to overheat.
  • Install an initial layer of rolled fiberglass batt insulation between the attic rafters. Use faced insulation, and first place a fire-rated barrier around any recessed light fixtures.
  • To add a second layer, start at the perimeter and work toward your attic hatch. Use unfaced insulation and run it perpendicular to the first layer.

To learn more about how important attic ventilation and insulation are to the comfort level in your Savannah, Pooler or Bluffton area home, contact us today at McDevitt Air.

Image Provided by Shutterstock.com

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