06-14-2011, 02:35 PM
I hope you will try the radiant barrier installed as suggested before going to the expense of an attic fan. An attic fan will do nothing to prevent the heating of the room below the attic by radiant heat. The sun's energy will come through the roof and ceiling and warm any objects in the room including the floor, furniture, etc. Those warm objects will then warm the adjacent air thereby heating the air in the room to an uncomfortable level. The attic fan will do nothing to help this. And this is the main cause of the heat in the room.
My first experience with radiant barrier was in a brick home in Baltimore. I had a thick black slate roof. The attic temperature was normally above 120 and the second floor of my house was about 15 degrees warmer than downstairs in the summer. It was awful. I installed radiant barrier on a rainy day. Voila! The upstairs was now no warmer than downstairs and the attic was bearable on a sunny day. I am a believer. And I hope to make you one too!
My first experience with radiant barrier was in a brick home in Baltimore. I had a thick black slate roof. The attic temperature was normally above 120 and the second floor of my house was about 15 degrees warmer than downstairs in the summer. It was awful. I installed radiant barrier on a rainy day. Voila! The upstairs was now no warmer than downstairs and the attic was bearable on a sunny day. I am a believer. And I hope to make you one too!