Attic Cold In Winter

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.

Attic cold in winter. In the winter moisture in your home is likely to rise into the attic. While heat migrates in the summer because your attic is acting as a giant pressure cooker in the winter the attic space is colder allowing more room for the heat to rise and bring all that warm cozy moisture with it. If the moisture becomes trapped there it can cause mold problems to develop. Heat inside the attic coupled with cold outside causes moisture to build up leading to condensation damage mold or mildew.

Your attic should ideally be the same temperature as the outside air at least at the roof deck. Open vents allow the moisture to leave the attic and travel outside. How attic insulation works in the winter in the summer and in regions that stay warm for the majority of the year attic insulation works like this. Open vents also ensure that cold air can enter into the attic during winter.

During cold winter months the attic vent fan is not necessary. 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. If you were to shut your vents trying to keep the heat in you could also be trapping that moisture. Good attic ventilation helps keep temperatures even preventing hot and cold spots that cause damaging ice dams where water can back up and freeze beneath your shingles.

Believe it or not the cold temperatures outside combined with the warm air down below mean that there can be an excessive amount of moisture building up in your attic during the cold winter months. Proper attic ventilation in winter prevents mold and mildew growth safeguarding your family against these harmful contaminants. Small attic vents located below the roof peaks provide sufficient ventilation to let the moisture created by heat rising into the. Radiant barrier or foil insulation is installed in the ceiling to help the roof reflect rather than absorb heat from the sun.

By letting heat escape freely from your home into the attic and having cool air from the. As we ve learned the biggest problem with not having proper attic ventilation is moisture. Roof shingles absorb a great deal of the sun s heat especially if they re dark in color.