Temperature in Attic? 13 December 2022 at 8:18PM edited 13 December 2022 at 8:20PM in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving 10 replies 443 views

sandy700

I put a remote temperature sensor in my attic and the temperature is showing as 4 degrees C while outside it is minus 4 degrees C  and the inside upstairs temperature is 22 degrees C 

The house is a 31 year old semi with 3 bedrooms.


There is 6 inches of insulation in the attic, should I add more?

MorningcoffeeIV

You could add more to bring it up to the currant recommended minimum. 

macman

150mm is probably enough, another layer will have diminishing returns.

FreeBear

macman said:

150mm is probably enough, another layer will have diminishing returns.

But a few rolls of insulation is not hugely expensive, nor is it difficult for most able bodied people to lay. It wouldn't hurt to put another layer of 150mm (or even 200mm) down - It would gain an extra point on your EPC should you decide to sell.

jacko220

FreeBear said:

macman said:

150mm is probably enough, another layer will have diminishing returns.

But a few rolls of insulation is not hugely expensive, nor is it difficult for most able bodied people to lay. It wouldn't hurt to put another layer of 150mm (or even 200mm) down - It would gain an extra point on your EPC should you decide to sell.

Adding more insulation will make the roof colder which means the air cannot hold as much vapour. you will need to vent the space more so you do not get condensation., which may cause the timber to rot, or steel in the gang nail plates to corrode.

Doozergirl

jacko220 said:

FreeBear said:

macman said:

150mm is probably enough, another layer will have diminishing returns.

But a few rolls of insulation is not hugely expensive, nor is it difficult for most able bodied people to lay. It wouldn't hurt to put another layer of 150mm (or even 200mm) down - It would gain an extra point on your EPC should you decide to sell.

Adding more insulation will make the roof colder which means the air cannot hold as much vapour. you will need to vent the space more so you do not get condensation., which may cause the timber to rot, or steel in the gang nail plates to corrode.

But 6 inches was only half the amount needed to meet regs until June this year, so we're not exactly talking about exceptional levels of insulation? 

Mutton_Geoff

sandy700 said:

I put a remote temperature sensor in my attic and the temperature is showing as 4 degrees C while outside it is minus 4 degrees C  and the inside upstairs temperature is 22 degrees C 

The house is a 31 year old semi with 3 bedrooms.


There is 6 inches of insulation in the attic, should I add more?

You're assuming all the warmth is coming up from your house where much of it will be solar heating of the roof/tiles in the same way that panels work. You have enough insulation unless you're interested in diminishing returns on investment.

marcia_

 What temp should the attic be? 

Mutton_Geoff

marcia_ said:

 What temp should the attic be? 

Less than the rooms underneath but more than the outside air temperature.

JohnSwift10

my attic is 6.4 deg C and 70 % RH at the moment and the outside temperature is -2 deg C

housebuyer143

My attic is so cold that the condensation droplets are frozen solid... I think that's a good thing maybe?