Attic Insulation Hot Climates

Conductive losses also occur directly through insulation or where insulation is missing or thin.

Attic insulation hot climates.

Radiant barrier is a foil that is placed between the attic floor and the insulation. Un insulated attic spaces in hot humid climates easily reach 140 and higher so if you have an air conditioning duct with minimal insulation running through the hot attic you can imagine how much of the cooling is lost before it even gets to your rooms. Building codes vary among the thousands of jurisdictions but a typical requirement in hot climates is r 38. Loose fill fiberglass is also a great solution because it s lightweight.

In hot climates the primary purpose of attic ventilation is to expel solar heated hot air from the attic to lessen the building cooling load. A radiant barrier is a material used in conjunction with attic insulation to reflect radiant heat at the surface and increase the efficiency of attic insulation. Common practice in some areas still has it pegged at r 19. Whether using loose fill or batts put the vapor barrier closest to the warm side of your installation where hot moist air would get in facing the house s interior in cold climates beneath floor insulation and the attic s interior in hot climates on top of floor insulation.

Picking these two low hanging fruits first will yield big results with the least investment so let s start there. Standard fiberglass batts and blankets are the best attic insulation because they effectively slow the spread of heat and cold. Some regions don t require a vapor barrier. The amount of cooling provided by a well ventilated roof exposed to the sun is very small.

The most important factor to consider in a warmer climate is the addition of a radiant barrier to whichever type of insulation you select. Thus a good thermal insulation is a must to protect your building and enhance your living comforts. Tenwolde and carll 1992 also observed that during summer attic vents provide some cooling but with sufficient ceiling insulation the effect on cooling loads should be minor. A large portion of the west coast mostly in california has the advantage of moderate climates and little rainfall.

Best insulation for hot climates 1. The brutal sun in the southern states will cook your attic and turn it into an oven literally. There are only two places you should be spending the bulk of your insulation dollars in a hot climate. In hot climates the primary purpose of attic or roof ventilation is to expel solar heated hot air from the attic to lessen the building cooling load.

A poorly insulated roof or attic or wall is cooler in winters and hotter in summer. Spray foam insulation is by far the best type of insulation for hot climates as it has.