How to Cool an Attic Bedroom?

by

The temperature in the attic has a huge impact on the rest of your house. It becomes even more important to cool and regulate the temperature when you have set up a bedroom in the attic.

Most often, the attic bedrooms are warm because their roof is directly exposed to sunlight. If your attic has no windows or vents, then it becomes even hotter and stuffier.

It may sound like it’s impossible to cool down your attic bedroom at first, but keep reading as we take you through this process step by step.

Here are four ways you can cool an attic bedroom:

  1. Prevent absorption of sunlight
  2. Insulate the attic
  3. Enhance ventilation
  4. Electric fan for the attic

Let’s learn about each of these methods in further detail below, so you can cool down your attic bedroom conveniently!

Prevent Absorption of Sunlight

If your attic is without windows, the darkness of the bedroom can make the roof prone to absorption of sunlight.

This causes your bedroom to heat up even more. That is why it’s important to make some renovations on your roof that help in the reflection of sunlight instead of absorption.

In order to prevent sunlight absorption, you need to assess the type of roof that your attic has.

Then, look for a roof coating with high reflective properties that you can apply on the surface of your roof.

This will prevent the absorption of sunlight during the day and keep your bedroom cool at night.

Insulate the Attic

Another highly effective method of cooling an attic bedroom is to insulate the room.

All the cooling measures that you take for bringing the temperature down in your basement will go in vain if you don’t insulate the attic properly.

A poorly insulated attic will continue to allow the heat to penetrate inside your home.

No matter how many cooling measures you incorporate, the heat will not allow the effect to last very long.

For example, if you install an air conditioner in your attic basement, the heat in the room will require it to work continuously to keep the room cool.

That is why taking some insulation measures will help your attic bedroom stay cooler for longer.

To help you with this, we are listing down a few of the best solutions for your attic insulation problems. Take a look below to learn more about your options:

Insulation with Spray Foam

An easy tip for keeping your attic bedroom cool is to look for an R-value spray foam for insulation.

When you use this spray for insulation in your attic, it will keep all the heat and warm air out and, as a result, lowering the temperature of your room.

Opt for Blown Insulation

Another great option is to opt for blown insulations; it’s even better if you’re a builder. The key to making this method work is to ensure that the blown insulation is installed properly.

Blown insulation is excellent for the conservation of energy in the attic rooms due to lower consumption of electricity. This also allows you to save some money on utility bills.

When you decide to go for blown insulation, you’ll have three types of options to choose from cellulose, fiberglass, and mineral wool.

All these options are loose-fill insulations containing reused materials.

If you want to get the best out of this type of insulation, then you need to consider the following things:

Look for the Right R-Value

R-value represents the capacity of a material to resist heat.

That is why you want to look for the correct R-value in order to ensure proper insulation of your attic bedroom.

Remove Gaps

It is essential to install the insulation with the appropriate density because, without it, gaps will form in your attic basement.

Gaps in insulation affect the R-value adversely and bring it down, which results in ineffective insulation.

Proper Placement

Proper placement of insulation is another significant factor in the cooling down of your attic bedroom.

The best insulation for your attic is the loose-fill insulation, and the right place for it is at a distance of at least 3 inches from the ceiling.

If you’re worried about mold infestation, then you can prevent it by blocking the soffits and installing baffles.

Drying

It is essential to allow the loose-fill insulation to dry out completely.

If your insulation isn’t completely dried, it impacts the R-value negatively and could prevent it from reaching the right value.

Enhance Ventilation

If you want to keep your attic bedroom cool, then you must work on its ventilation. A proper ventilation system ensures that hot air doesn’t linger in your attic bedroom for long.

If you have windows, doors, or vents in your attic, then keeping them open for some time in the day can help direct the hot air outside.

In case that your attic doesn’t have an opening, you should consider hiring a builder to install a vent in your room.

The key to having a cool attic bedroom is the combination of insulation and ventilation.

Even if you have vents in the room, but the roof keeps absorbing heat, the vents wouldn’t be able to stay effective.

That is why you must insulate your room before you proceed to work on increasing ventilation.

We have already discussed how to insulate your attic, so here are a few options for attic bedroom ventilation:

  • Box vents
  • Ridge vents
  • Soffits vents
  • Gable vents
  • Skylights

So, look around your attic bedroom and assess whether its ventilation channels are enough or you need to install new ones.

Consider getting expert help by consulting with a builder who can help you choose the right type of ventilation for your bedroom in the attic.

Install an Air Conditioner

Investing in an AC could be a great idea for your attic, especially because you’re using the space as a bedroom.

Since you’ll be using the space the most, it’s only fair that you have an AC that can keep the room at the right temperature of cold.

However, proper insulation of your room will still be required, so the AC isn’t overworked.

If you happen to have a powerful central air conditioning system, then you can also direct the system to cool your attic.

Electric Fan for the Attic

Electric fans play a significant role in keeping the air flowing in your attic, and that’s why you should consider installing one in your bedroom.

Electric fans help keep the room cool and push the warm air out.

There are multiple types of fans that will work well in an attic; let’s take a look at the two main types below:

a) Wall-Mounted Electric Fans

Wall-mounted fans are installed by fitting on the gable of the wall, so there is no need for making any significant changes in your bedroom.

b) Ceiling-Mounted Electric Fans

This type of electric fan requires a few changes in the room. For instance, you’ll need to cut out a small part of your ceiling.

Although it may sound like it, the installation of these fans isn’t as complicated.

However, if you don’t want to try it yourself, you can hire a builder to do the installation for you.

Why is it important to keep your attic cool?

Whether you live in your attic or not, it is important to be mindful of its temperature. If your attic gets hot, it will make your entire home warm.

When the heat in the attic gets high, it then travels downwards and spread across the entire house.

Moreover, a cool attic extends the life of your roof and the rest of the house.

Roofs are mostly exposed to heat from two sources; one is the direct sunlight, and the second is the hot air underneath them.

Both these sources combine to damage your roof’s structure.

That is why it is essential to keep your attic cool, so the rest of the house can also stay cool.

Insulation and ventilation are the right way to go about keeping the temperature of your attic in control.

Final Thoughts

Attic bedrooms are notorious for high temperatures, but you can make it work with just a few adjustments.

By following the tips that we discussed above, you can keep your attic bedroom cool and comfortable.

Adding ventilation and insulation will make a significant difference in your living experience. Consider hiring professionals to make the changes for you!

Other articles you may also like: