Does Venting Through Attic Need To Be Insulated

Inspect the hvac system and ducts in the attic.

Does venting through attic need to be insulated. The solution properly insulate the vent ducts. Complete coverage of the attic floor along with sealing air leaks will ensure you get the best performance from your insulation. In no case should bath fans blow air directly into the attic. You insulate your home to reduce temperature fluctuations and save on utility bills but then you allow fresh air to flow through the attic no matter.

At first glance it can seem counter intuitive. Attics or roofs can be designed and constructed to be either vented or unvented in any hygro thermal zone map 1. Complete coverage of the attic floor along with sealing air leaks will ensure you get the best performance from your insulation. If you plan to install insulation on your attic floor then most building codes require that the attic be vented.

A cold duct allows condensation of moist indoor air leading to drips from the exhaust fan. Otherwise the exhaust duct gets too cold when it runs through the attic. All ducts should be insulated and sealed air tight. Make sure the air handler giant rectangular fan unit for the ac is sealed.

Insulate the bathroom exhaust vent fan ducts. To completely cover your attic floor with insulation out to the eaves you need to install rafter vents also called insulation baffles. The reason exhaust pipes are insulated in unconditioned spaces your attic is because they carry warm and moist air from your home to outside. The model building codes allow both vented and unvented roof assemblies.

The choice of venting or not venting is a design and construction choice not a requirement determined by the physics or by the building code. For example see section r806 1 of the 2015 international residential code. To completely cover your attic floor with insulation out to the eaves you need to install rafter vents also called insulation baffles. A combination of air sealing and insulating the attic floor while providing ventilation considerably reduces potential for condensation as warm moist air is less likely to enter the space and condense on cold surfaces.