Do I Need Attic Vents With Radiant Barrier

More is not always better.

Do i need attic vents with radiant barrier.

This is why radiant barrier combined with proper ventilation works to make your home more comfortable and energy efficient. Having good attic ventilation helps to reduce the air temperature in your attic but having a radiant barrier helps reduce the surface temperatures in your attic. You must ensure the attic ventilation is not blocked. Air temperatures would drop but surface temperatures would not drop much due to the radiant heat gain.

Radiant barrier does require and air gap to work to reflect heat just an air space gap. Here is where many people screw up attic ventilation. You can learn more about how that works here. Why an airspace is required for a radiant barrier.

It may be an easier way to install radiant barrier but it can trap moisture between itself and the attic floor and cause the insulation to become damp. Then you need to add a radiant barrier over your insulation on the attic floor so you can stop convective looping in the insulation and help the home retain its heat. If dust accumulates on the foil surface it will render the radiant barrier less efficient. Damp insulation may support mold growth and eventually will lose some of its r value.

Do you need ventilation in order for radiant barrier to work. Ventilation is important and can help keep an attic dry and lower air temperatures but not having any ventilation isn t the worst case scenario. According to the department of energy installing radiant barrier on the floor of the attic can cause problems. The ventilation in the attic should not be altered you need this to prevent ice damming and to keep the attic dry prevent moisture accrual.