Attic temperature

[ecoutu]

With the recent heat wave throughout the country and some of the attics I've been in the past few days, I'm wondering if anyone has a rule of thumb for how much difference between outside air and temperature in the attic is acceptable. If it gets too hot in the attic, does it matter?

[Brian E. Kelly]

I have a problem when the beer instantly turns to dust.

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by ecoutu

With the recent heat wave throughout the country and some of the attics I've been in the past few days, I'm wondering if anyone has a rule of thumb for how much difference between outside air and temperature in the attic is acceptable. If it gets too hot in the attic, does it matter?

I do not know where I read it but I believe last year a home inspector died from heat exhaustion .
I think he was able to get back down out of the attic but died in the home .
Any one have more information on this .
Roy Cooke sr

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by rcooke

I do not know where I read it but I believe last year a home inspector died from heat exhaustion .
I think he was able to get back down out of the attic but died in the home .
Any one have more information on this .
Roy Cooke sr

I thought I had read a similar article, and I thought I had saved it, but I can't find it now. I might have lost it on my hard drive that crashed last August.

Most thermostats for attic fans have a maximum setting of 140°F. That is the same setting I use for determining whether or not I go into the attic to any significant distance. It's not hard to explain heat-related deaths to Clients; just save all the newspaper stories that appeared in papers this month.

Use that third-party reference (the manufacturer's maximum thermostat setting) and pull out some stories about heat-related deaths, and recommend more ventilation for the attic, and you'll probably be okay. Charge a reduced fee (I charge half my original inspection fee) to go back out and inspect things that could not be inspected at the original inspection, or recommend further evaluation by a qualified roofing contractor, who, hopefully, will provide them with additional information about high attic temperatures, as well as options for installing additional ventilation.

[Mark A. Timpani, CMI]

I heard 20 degrees from outside to inside.

[cfuoco]

This was one from last week for me.

[lewens]

Inadequate attic ventilation will result in a reduction of the life expectancy of the roof covering, if asphalt based. Ideally the attic temp should be as close as possible to the outside temp. That is close to impossible on a hot day. If the roof is exposed to the sun on a hot day I will not even walk it, the potential for damage is too great.
Larry

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by lewens

If the roof is exposed to the sun on a hot day I will not even walk it, the potential for damage is too great.

I never walk on roofs, hot, cold, or otherwise.

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by lewens

Ideally the attic temp should be as close as possible to the outside temp. Larry

I like that ideal, too.

[briddle]

I heard there is usually about a 40 degree difference. Can't remember where I heard it though.

[Dale Duffy]

This was in an uninsulated garage wall facing west as the sun was going down, I don't know what the attic temperature was, probably the same or a little warmer.

150-160 are not uncommon when its 115 in the shade here.

[Blaine Wiley]

150 is very common here with proper ventilation and the hot sun bearing down on a dark roof!

[Robert Hess]

i would not enter an attic much hotter than 120 degrees because it is difficult to breathe with a resperator on

[Russel Ray]

If it's hotter than 80°F, Ms Margarita and Dr Cuervo head to the beach, not an attic!

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Originally Posted by rray

I never walk on roofs, hot, cold, or otherwise.

If it's hotter than 80°F, Ms Margarita and Dr Cuervo head to the beach, not an attic!

If that is the case, you must not be inspecting the roof and/or the attic's too often. ha. ha.

Marcel