The results of my recent trip into the attic to improve the insulation have shown it to be an unqualified success! It was three hours of dirty, hot, sweaty work and $150 in materials but it was well worth it. The air conditioner can now keep pace with the thermostat setting, whereas previously there might be up to a 5 degree difference. I was considering all sorts of remedies for the upstairs heat: installing a roof ridge vent ($1.5k to $3k), adding a heat shield ($300), adding (another) attic fan ($300), or even installing a new, separate air conditoner ($3k+). The cheapest solution has turned out to be the best.
The attic fan I installed (with much peril, if you’ll recall) is still not functioning. When it works it can probably cool the attic down by ten degrees. I’d still like to get it fixed but now that the insulation is doing its job there’s no rush. I’ll wait until it cools off outside a bit more.
One thing that still needs addressing is our master bedroom closet. It sits on the end of the house (on the southern side no less), has no air duct supplying air conditioning to it, and has our attic accessway in it. During the summer, this closet heats to 95 degrees! There’s not much reason to add AC to it, but one thing I would like to do is build a way to better insulate over the attic stairs. I’m thinking of building a hinged cover for them.
Ah. So many projects, so little time!
You need to install a simple device known as an attic tent ( http://www.attictent.com/ ). It does a great job of sealing the attic opening and preventing the hot/cold air from seeping down into the house. I installed one over my attic stairs a couple years ago, and it made a big difference.
I don’t think its a problem with drafts. It’s the radient heat. There’s very little insulation on the stairs and the heat of the attic just conducts through the opening.
I’ll check the tent out, however. Thanks!
An attic tent not only reduces air seepage, but it also forms a layer of insulation over the opening. It’s a lot better than no cover at all.