BGG had an energy audit done, which informed his plan to remove the existing fiberglass batts, air-seal the attic, install a ducted heat pump system, then blow in cellulose insulation. He asks if, while the attic is empty, it is a good time to perform other upgrades. He is particularly interested in whether mechanical ventilation should be added.
I’m building a new single-story single-family house with an unvented attic and am looking for input on how to address my attached unvented garage attic. The home is located in Northern California in climate zone 3-C (Marine), so mild weather year-round.
I’m trying to get a sense whether its worth adding more insulation to my attic. Climate zone 5A. Currently has R38 insulation (R11 batt + R27 blown-in fiberglass). The attic […]
Hi all: I recently converted the formerly vented attic above my attached garage to an unvented and conditioned attic. This attic houses my geothermal air handler, whole house dehumidifier, and […]
Attic insulated with spray foam at the roofline. Thermal bridging is reduced by spraying over the rafters. Air leakage is reduced by encapsulating the attic. By encapsulating the attic, the air in that space will be close to indoor conditions of temperature and humidity, but there won’t be any cold surfaces for water vapor to condense on.
Venting an attic in cooling season The warm-climate, summertime problems of shingle life and cooling costs also show little improvement from attic ventilation. Shingle life can be shortened by higher temperatures, and asphalt shingles do stay cooler with a ventilated attic. But the effect is small, with only about six percent reduction in ...
6. Keep your attic cooler with a reflective roof or radiant barrier Another way to reduce heat flow into your ducts from a hot, unconditioned attic is to keep the attic cooler. The best way to cool your attic is by stopping the heat before it has a chance to enter by using a reflective roof.
Learn the requirements for residential attics in different climate zones, the impact on energy efficiency, and the importance of proper insulation installation.
Where an R-20 encapsulated attic does sometimes make sense is for existing homes. If a homeowner has a set budget for improvements, using some of that to do R-20 spray foam on the roofline can provide a lot of benefit if ducts are in the attic and if it reduces air leakage significantly.
