What should attic temperature be in winter

When I insulate an attic, I aim for an R-Value of at least That will help keep my house nice and warm in the winter, but cool during the summer. Batt Insulation Typically made of fibreglass or mineral wool, batt insulation is made up of strips of material that fit between the ceiling joists to provide insulating power. Batt insulation should be loose fitting — within the material is a lot of air that provides extra R-Value.

By compressing batt insulation you will actually be losing R-Value. Foam Board Insulation Rigid panels of insulation are most commonly made from polystyrene or polyurethane. Small chunks of insulating material typically fibreglass and cellulose is blown into the attic space in smaller chunks. Like batt insulation, blown-in insulation should be fluffy. Sustainability and building for the future is something that I believe in, and the cellulose used in blown-in insulation is an environmentally friendly product.

Adding blown-in insulation is a job that you will need to leave to the professionals. Spray Foam Insulation A polyurethane foam is sprayed in the attic, which will fill cracks and gaps, forming a barrier. There are two types of spray foam insulation: closed cell and open cell.

Open cell foam is permeable to moisture, but impermeable to air, while closed cell foam stops air and moisture. Closed cell spray foam provides the highest R-Value, offering a value of up to 7 per inch. Amateurs tend to pile the insulation too high, blocking out the soffit attic intake vents, which cuts off all ventilation in the attic.

Ice damming is more likely to be an attic issue than one with your eavestroughs. Too little insulation at the perimeter of the attic can result in heat loss coming in contact with cold air, creating condensation and freezing. One way to solve this issue is by using a closed cell spray foam just around the edges of the attic. For more information, visit makeitright. The holiday, which is a big deal elsewhere, is becoming a thing here, too.

This warm air leakage increases as outdoor air temperature drops. Because of all the variables, getting attic temperatures as close to the outdoor temperature an hour before sunrise is a great goal. Keep a journal of outdoor and attic temperatures with notes on snow cover, snow blockage of roof vents and wind speed. If you ever have an opportunity to have a blower door test on your home often done as part of a home energy audit ask for an "attic series leakage test.

The Minnesota Office of Energy Security offers free publications that provide good information on this subject and others regarding housing in a cold climate. Or call or statewide toll-free at Past columns are available at www. Home All Sections. Log In Welcome, User.

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It is possible to get small icicles because of the sun. This is normal. Pict1: snow melts on top of the roof because of a hole in the attic floor that allows warm air to raise through the insulation material into the attic. Pict2: The area marked in yellow is a hole in the attic that leads directly to the inside of the wall in the room below. The horizontal pipe you see in the photo is running in the wall below the attic. Icicles of this size are and indication that this roof has a big ice dam at the edge of the roof.