NEW ORLEANS Blog

Just How Hot Can Your Attic Get in the Summer?

Summer weather is creeping up on us here in New Orleans. That means temperatures that can feel like triple digits. Of course, this means an increase in electric bills, but there is one thing you might overlook that could save you some money — your attic. 

How Hot Can Your Attic Get?

Although there are many factors, an attic without proper ventilation can reach temperatures around 150 degrees or hotter! 150 degrees is hot enough to cook an egg and can also cause severe damage to your roof. 

If the hot air in your attic becomes stagnant, or just sits, the shingles of your roof can begin to overheat. The heat can begin to soften the asphalt which causes moisture to seep in and expand resulting in blisters. We are familiar with roof damage from hurricanes, and repairs are not cheap! 

So What Should Your Attic Feel Like?

Ideally, your attic should be no more than 10-15 degrees hotter than the outside temperature in the summer. Once the attic space reaches 130 degrees, you will notice an increase in your energy costs. In the winter, the temperature should not fall below 60 degrees. 

Your attic will be hot in the summer, but to ensure that it does not get too hot, keep these things in mind: 

A Well Insulated Roof: Sun rays beam down to the roof continuously throughout the day. Without a properly insulated roof, the intense sunlight and heat will cause the temperature will rise in the attic. 

A Well Insulated Attic: As the roof gets heated throughout the day, of course, the temperature of the attic rises. An attic lacking proper insulation will allow heat to transfer through the ceilings into other areas of the house. 

The heat, or energy, transfer that occurs added to the hot air being pushed into the house will lead to uncomfortable and uneven temperature in rooms, higher workload for your HVAC system, and your energy consumption will be much higher, resulting in an expensive energy bill. Insulation can affect up to 40% of your heating and cooling costs. That means good, well-installed insulation can help you save up to 40% on your electricity bill. 

An Attic Fan: While most homes/buildings have some form of ventilation system for the attic, they may not be working efficiently. Consider replacing or purchasing an attic fan to keep your attic cool in the summer. Attic fans help to remove hot air from the attic and pull in cool air. 

It is important to note that Insulation and attic fans work like Batman and Robin, they go hand in hand. You can have insulation without an attic fan, but you cannot have an attic fan without insulation. Having attic insulation and an attic fan make a great team by helping the attic ventilate to keep the attic cooler. 

Think that your insulation may not be doing its job? Call Koala Insulation of Greater New Orleans. Our sales representative and/or operations manager are happy to inspect your attic and help you determine the best way to keep the temperature and your electric bill where they are supposed to be!