Temperature and your attic

Keep track of your attic's temperatures! Beyond temperature's contribution to moisture and mold problems as described in sections below, heat - especially in the summer months - can be its own problem for your attic. While attics absorb solar radiation and cause internal temperatures to soar well above 120°F, your home's cooling system works overtime to keep the living spaces livable. This takes an operational and maintenance toll on your system, but also wastes energy and money on your utility bills.

Heat accumulating in your attic also poses a threat to the integrity of your roof. As the roof deck is heated from underneath, shingles can warp and deteriorate and impact durability to strip years off of your roof's life expectancy.

Humidity and your attic

Monitor humidity in your attic! There are many ways moisture can find its way into your attic such as poor insulation, bad bathroom venting, blocked or insufficient ventilation, or damaged chimney flashings. Uncontrolled humidity in your attic can cause water to condensate on cold wood and metal surfaces and cause wood rot or material deterioration. Insulation can also absorb moisture and become wet, decreasing its effectiveness and increasing the strain on your heating system and utility bill. High humidity can also encourage mold growth - which can be a serious heath threat.