NASHVILLE Blog

Hot Attic

Hot Attic

Some people have accepted that having a very hot attic is just a normal part of living in the Nashville area, but actually, it’s a sign that something may not be right. Your home is going to be healthier if your attic is at a proper temperature, and knowing where to look for a problem is a great place to start.

Here are some of the things to consider if your attic seems too hot.

Low Insulation

Insulation is the barrier that keeps the heat from the outside from entering your home. There are a couple of ways to see if the insulation isn’t performing properly. If there are visible bare spots in the insulation, this is a sign that it is becoming older and may need some attention. If you start to see the joists (the smaller wooden slats running between the rafters), the insulation is probably compromised. Occasionally the old insulation is compromised and will need to be replaced. Often it won’t and you can read about that here. Does My Insulation Need To Be Removed (koalainsulation.com) If the problem cannot be found visually, thermal imaging is a specialized way to detect failing insulation. You may not have thermal imagery equipment at home, but you can contact your Insulation Professionals about this method by clicking here. https://koalainsulation.com/nashville/contact-us

Poor Ventilation

Keeping your attic at the right temperature won’t be possible without proper ventilation. Keeping air flowing through your attic prevents it from getting too hot, which, in turn, keeps too much hot air from transferring into your living space and making you uncomfortable. It’s important to keep an eye on the vents in your attic. Make sure that your home has an adequate amount of intake and soffit vents and additionally that they are not blocked. We had multiple customers from Brentwood, Franklin, and Madison in the last week call saying something is wrong in their attic. Each one complained of the heat but also mentioned they could see light coming in from the outside. Surprisingly to these customers, it’s a good thing to see the light as that means they have clear and open soffit vents allowing air in. Now they had other issues, namely the exhaust. Exhaust comes from enough ridge and roof vents or other powered fans. Koala Insulation of Nashville can help you with these problems and connect you with the right people for the job.

The benefits of having your attic at the right temperature make it worthwhile to invest in good attic care. These are just a few of the ways you’ll be better off with a cooler attic: Your roof will last longer, especially for a house with shingles, as the heat weakens the asphalt and makes them deteriorate over time. A hot and poorly ventilated attic can cause the wooden rafters to sweat, as seen here in a Murfreesboro attic.

HVAC systems, which can cost what seems like a fortune to replace, will also have a longer life in an environment that is cooler. When we think of A/C we think of cold air. In actuality, the A/C removes hot air from your home. Go outside and find the condenser on a hot day and feel the burn of the air coming out. The A/C unit is then pulling new air, often from your hot attic, and running it to the coil to be cooled with freon.  Obviously, your machine is taxed more the higher the temperature of the air it’s pulling in.

A cooler attic is a better attic and makes for a more comfortable, efficient, and therefore cost-effective home. Koala Insulation of Nashville has all the resources to make sure the insulation in your attic is doing its job. Learn more about what we can do for your home at https://koalainsulation.com/nashville .