Why your attic is an oven (and how to fix it)

The Hot Air Balloon

Your attic traps heat. The sun hits the roof. The air inside gets to 60°C. That heat pushes down into your bedroom. Your AC works overtime. You go broke.

You need AIRFLOW.

You need cool air to come in (bottom) and hot air to go out (top).

1. The Intake (Soffit Vents) Those little holes under the eaves? They are not for decoration. They let cool air in. If you board them up solid, you are suffocating your house. Use perforated ficem board or aluminum vents.

2. The Exhaust (Ridge Vents) Hot air rises. It gathers at the peak of the roof. If it has nowhere to go, it stays there. A Ridge Vent is a gap at the very top of the roof, covered by a special cap. Ideally, the hot air flows out naturally.

The Typhoon Problem

“But Daniel, won’t rain get in?” If you buy a cheap vent? Yes. You need a design with baffles that stops wind-driven rain. Or, stick to Gable Vents (vents on the side walls). They are safer for typhoons than Ridge Vents in my opinion.

Summary

Don’t seal your attic tight. Let it breathe. But put a screen on the holes, or you will have a rat hotel.