How to Reduce Heat Loss Through the Roof of Your Home

Anyone who paid attention in science class in elementary school knows that heat rises, so it should come as no surprise that your roof is one of the primary areas in your home where the heat you pay for can escape into the outside air. Unfortunately, this can lead to reduced energy efficiency in your home, as well as rising utility bills. And if you do nothing to pinpoint or correct the problem, your costs only stand to increase. However, you can find ways to conserve energy and other resources, cut your carbon footprint, and save some money on heating bills when your bought air is escaping through the roof. Here are a few ways to reduce heat loss by targeting the hat on your house.

A good place to begin is with a home energy audit. There are a few reasons why heat might be seeping out through the top of your home and if you want to hone in on problem areas, hiring a professional technician to thoroughly inspect and test your home is probably the best way to uncover any issues you should address. Of course, you might not need to spring for a blower test in order to pinpoint the problems with energy efficiency where your roof is concerned. A simple trip to the attic, combined with a roof inspection, might help you to discover certain issues.

One of the biggest potential reasons for heat loss via the roof of your home has to do with insulation. In most unfinished attic spaces this will consist of layers of batting that has been rolled out or fill insulation that has simply been sprayed around, filling in the spaces between joists. But you might find that your insulation has been improperly installed or that it is inadequate for the space. Or perhaps it has simply deteriorated over time or been subject to attack by pests. Regardless, you’ll want to make sure that you have sufficient insulation and the right products to keep the heat in your home where it belongs.

That said, this isn’t the only issue you might face. Also common are leaks between boards, seams, and so on. For this reason you might have to use products like spray foam insulation to seal leaks, ensure airtightness, and protect against the outside elements all at once. You could also use weather stripping, caulk, or other forms of sealant to keep your heated air from escaping. This is especially true if your attic space contains vents, ductwork, or even windows that can compromise the relative airtightness of the space.

It never hurts to take a look topside, as well, since you may be able to spot problems from the outside that are not readily apparent inside your attic. If, for example, you’re having issues with vents, flashing, shingles, and so on, you might get a better idea of where these obstacles lie when you perform an inspection of the exterior surface of your roof. Reducing heat loss in your home overall could require sealing and insulating your whole home and installing proper ventilation, including great products for improving indoor air quality. But if heat seems to be escaping upward, the first step is to get in the attic and see how you might quell the uprising, so to speak.