Should You Heat Your Unused Attic in the Winter?

Most homeowners use attics as a storage space, a home office, or a playroom zone for kids. But in most cases, it stays unused because it is hard to cool and heat. During the summertime, the attic stays warm because of the effect of the sun’s rays and the rising of warm air. During the winter time, poor insulation and vent drafts cause temperatures in the attic to stay cool. But you can use different ways to make the attic warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Insulation

To take care of the cooling and heating, use the proper attic insulation to prevent heat migration from the house to the attic and vice versa. When you are trying to find out the amount of insulation you need, take into consideration the R-value of the insulation. If it is higher, then the insulation is very effective. Before you get to the local center, verify the type, location, and amount of the current attic insulation.

Other components that play a significant part in insulation are the windows. If your attic has windows, block the sun’s rays from getting to the room using long and heavy drapes that reflect the light. During the winter season, let the heat warm your attic by opening up the blinds or drapes.  Always ensure that the windows in your attic are properly insulated and caulked to prevent any loss of heat.

Cooling using fans

If you want to keep your attic cool, you can use an attic fan. To do this properly, ensure that the attic is draft free because you can end up drawing cool air from the house to the attic. You can install two types of attic fans: gabled wall fans and roof installation fans. Gabled fans are installed in a gabled vent while the roof fans are placed in a skylight or a roof opening. To fix it, you can also see the services of a professional, especially if you want the attic fans to use electricity from the house. Avoid running electrical extension cords to the attic fans from the living room. As an option, you can also go for solar powered attic fans. Please check this great article on how to protect the roof with attic fans.

Cooling using air turbines, ridge and soffit vents

Install soffit vents and ridge vents if you don’t have them. Soffit vents are installed under eaves, while ridge vents are openings in the roof ridge. Air flows through the soffit vents and to the ridge vents. You can also move warm air out of the attic using air turbines which are wind-powered to create suction when the blades start to spin. Although air turbines, soffit vents, and ridge vents are good ways to remove heat from the attic, they do not control the accumulation of heat in the attic. You will find that the attic remains hot even after using these methods.

Portable heaters

You can also use space or baseboard heaters to heat your attic. These solutions will require that you fit electricity into the attic. While using the space and baseboard heaters, ensure that you monitor them to prevent any house fires. When you use them well, it can be an effective way to make sure that your attic is warm.

What you need to do is to ensure that you keep the air in the attic flowing to prevent any moisture buildup because it can cause the insulation in your attic to be ineffective, and this can lead to the formation of mildew and mould. When moisture builds up in your attic, it will damage your attic structures with wood rot and mould. Seeking the help of a professional will go a long way in ensuring you don’t suffer from damages.