Is My Attic Supposed To Be Warm In The Winter

What should the attic temperature be relative to the outside and house temperatures assuming a new supposedly well insulated house.

Is my attic supposed to be warm in the winter.

The cold temperatures outside make the underside of your roof cold which makes conditions in the attic even more moist. If it s 90 degrees outside the attic temperatures shouldn t exceed 110 according to home inspector jamison brown of amerispec home inspection services in poquoson. Not the overabundance but the lack of insulation in the attic. If your home or business relies on the use of an attic or other second or third floor space it might be hard to keep warm during those frigid winter months.

The ice damming is caused by heat at the ridge melting the snow and having it freeze when it gets to the lower part of the roof which prevents it from draining. However more often than not. Even if your attic is too cold in the winter it s likely that the temperature inside your attic will still be higher than the temperature outside during summer months. Even though the old adage claims that heat rises it can still seem chilly whether the space is finished or not.

If your roof isn t warming up too much during the cold snowy weather then the snow that lands on your roof won t melt immediately only to refreeze on the edges where it can form ice dams. A thick insulation between 14 to 18 inches will help reduce heat from entering your home. A check the temperature an hour before sunrise. Having your attic properly ventilated during the winter means that your roof won t get too warm because you re trapping air in the attic itself.

Since heat rises it can get trapped in your attic and that hot air is moist. Your attic should ideally be the same temperature as the outside air at least at the roof deck. The attic is a huge determinant in keeping your entire home cool so the first place to start cooling your home should be the attic.