Do I Need Attic Vents With Radiant Barrier

A radiant barrier can lower heat transfer from attics to the building below keep the attic space cooler and lower cooling costs by up to 17 in warmer climates.

Do i need attic vents with radiant barrier.

Unlike traditional thick layers of insulation radiant barrier is a thin reflective material. I installed a gable fan and am also wanting to install a radiant barrier. When installing the radiant barrier do i still need to plug the vent holes closest to the fan. The heat from the roof then travels into the attic.

The insructions for the fan say to cover the vents closest to the fan so the fan can pull the air fron the other side of the attic. Elizabeth spencer radiant barriers are installed in homes usually in attics primarily to reduce summer heat gain and reduce cooling costs. If only it were that simple. Using a radiant barrier.

If i have roof vents i have good attic ventilation. Radiant heat can affect the air ducts. Radiant barrier rejects heat from ever entering the attic. Active ventilation and what you really need to do to have a well vented attic space that stays cool and dry.

Remember it s a bad idea to mix exhaust vent types passive vents with active fans. More info that here. If you re searching for does attic radiant barrier work or is radiant barrier worth it this article will help. What most customers find is that after they install atticfoil radiant barrier foil the attic is so much cooler they don t need to adjust the ventilation.

Radiant barriers are utilized to reduce summer heat gain in attics and help to improve the efficiency of green building envelopes. Good roof ventilation can do this but shingle color sun exposure and insulation are exponentially more important to overall energy efficiency than ventilation. Here are six of the most common misconceptions about attic ventilation. Air enters low and then escapes out of the attic higher up near the peak of the roof usually via a ridge vent an attic fan which we do not recommend static roof vents or a high mounted gable vent fan.

Radiant barriers in an attic with dense pack insulation and sealed air vents. Radiant barrier is a home insulation type that is focused on reducing summer heat gain. A radiant barrier discussed in further detail within this article will stop the radiant heat from reaching the attic. The key is to give the air a free clear path to flow in to the attic at the bottom via soffit vents and out the top via your exit vent.

Read on to find out what you need to know about attics soffit vents passive vs. Sure installing roof vents for older homes can reduce your hot air during the summer but there are probably more low risk cost effective ways to increase your home s energy. We take a look at how radiant barriers work the different types of radiant barriers and some of the. Radiant barrier in such a way that it doesn t change the attic ventilation from its natural course.

I would not do anything until the radiant barrier is installed.