Conditioned Attic Vs Vented

Furthermore leaky ducts can lose as much as 20 of conditioned air flow to the attic bsc 2009.

Conditioned attic vs vented.

Choosing a conditioned attic vs unconditioned attic space comes down to what you want to do with the area and what works best with the design of your home. If you convert your vented unconditioned attic to an unvented conditioned attic by installing open cell spray foam on the underside of your roof sheathing you may be surprised to discover that your attic is now the most humid room in your house. Unvented attics are also said to perform better in areas where high wind events. In colder climates the main purpose of a vented roof is to keep the roof cold and reduce the formation of ice dams.

The thermal boundary can be at the ceiling plane leaving the attic space above uninsulated and vented or the thermal boundary can be located at the roof line creating a sealed insulated conditioned or semi conditioned attic space. Which is best for your home. A secondary goal is to vent moisture that infiltrates the attic from the conditioned home. Vented roofs serve a number of different purposes and their roles vary from climate to climate.

In a roof attic assembly the builder has two choices. Although building scientists haven t achieved a consensus on the answer we. This means bringing the attic into the house more like a very short second floor so it is kept warm and therefore dry and therefore clean. Oversized heating and cooling units are often installed to.

Energy codes building scientists and lots of bad experiences are collectively pushing us all towards sealed aka conditioned and unvented attics. The energy needed for air conditioning and heating typically goes up 10 when ducts are in the attic ueno 2003. Furnaces ducts and air conditioning ac equipment run throughout the attic spaces on all levels except the dormers and the space over the outside deck. Vented attic it is exposed to extremes of hot and cold.

If you want the extra storage and don t want to take the risk of moisture buildup the unvented system is the best fit for your home. In warmer climates unvented attics can prevent the condensation that occurs on ductwork in some vented attic spaces.