Attic Insulation Hot Climates

The amount of cooling provided by a well ventilated roof exposed to the sun is very small.

Attic insulation hot climates.

Some regions don t require a vapor barrier. Offering a clear range of air bubble thermal insulation products an extraordinary air bubble sheet which is developed with supervision and quality. Spray foam insulation is by far the best type of insulation for hot climates as it has. Radiant barrier is a great option for hot climates as it doesn t try to slow the heat from passing.

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. 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. Conductive losses also occur directly through insulation or where insulation is missing or thin. The most important factor to consider in a warmer climate is the addition of a radiant barrier to whichever type of insulation you select.

Standard fiberglass batts and blankets are the best attic insulation because they effectively slow the spread of heat and cold. Radiant barrier is a foil that is placed between the attic floor and the insulation. 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. The brutal sun in the southern states will cook your attic and turn it into an oven literally.

Thus a good thermal insulation is a must to protect your building and enhance your living comforts. 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. And yet for example our fresno calif franchise abc cooling routinely insulates attics from r 50 to r 60 in home retrofits. There are only two places you should be spending the bulk of your insulation dollars in a hot climate.

Loose fill fiberglass is also a great solution because it s lightweight. A poorly insulated roof or attic or wall is cooler in winters and hotter in summer. Common practice in some areas still has it pegged at r 19. Picking these two low hanging fruits first will yield big results with the least investment so let s start there.

Building codes vary among the thousands of jurisdictions but a typical requirement in hot climates is r 38. A large portion of the west coast mostly in california has the advantage of moderate climates and little rainfall.