Six Attic Upgrades That Can Help Lower Your Energy Bills
An attic can easily trap hot air or allow it to escape through unseen gaps, which often leads to increased HVAC usage to maintain comfortable temperatures throughout your home. To improve energy efficiency and save on utility costs, here are six key upgrades to consider for your attic:
Add Air Seals
One of the simplest ways to upgrade your attic is by adding air seals around any openings or gaps between the attic and living spaces. This includes sealing areas around lights, vents, and adding a hatch cover or blanket for pull-down stairs. For walk-up attic steps, consider door draft stoppers to keep conditioned air from escaping.
Inspect Fan Output
Make sure all bathroom vents and exhaust fans lead directly outside, not into the attic. Proper venting prevents moisture buildup, which helps protect your roof and prevent mold.
Optimize Ventilation
Adequate ventilation allows hot, humid air to escape, reducing moisture levels. While attic fans can help, soffit and rafter vents are often more effective. Place these vents under the eaves, with the exhaust near the roof ridge, allowing cooler air to circulate into the attic and balance its temperature.
Install Radiant Barriers on Rafters
Radiant barriers are reflective foil-based materials that deflect heat, reducing the amount of hot air entering the attic. Think of it as a mirror that bounces the heat away, helping to keep your home cooler.
Add Baffles
Insulation relies on air pockets between layers of material to be effective. Adding baffles, or rafter vents, helps direct fresh air into the attic, maintaining a gap between insulation and the roof deck. This airflow from the soffit vents to the attic improves ventilation and insulation performance.
Use the Right Insulation
Using loose-fill insulation through the blown-in method ensures fiberglass fills small gaps and crevices throughout the attic. Be sure your insulation meets building code requirements and has the proper R-value for your area, which measures its heat resistance. Most attics should be insulated to at least R-38, though requirements vary by state.
Consider Professional Help
While these upgrades can greatly improve your attic’s efficiency, they can be challenging or even hazardous to tackle on your own. Hiring a certified professional ensures the job is done safely and thoroughly, resulting in better energy savings, lower utility bills, and a longer-lasting roof.
