A well insulated and air sealed attic in phoenix will only comprise 10 15 of the sensible cooling load.
Reclaiming attic heat.
What about using an attic fan in reverse to draw hot air out of the attic and into the house.
It was an unanticipated but positive side effect.
Before beginning the project i considered how the roof heat could be used and designed and integrated an automatic system to bring the heat from the space just between the roof and the insulation layer into the room.
I posted this in passive solar but if there s a better forum please move it.
Also we will most likely need to insulate the space to keep the heat and cool in since the attic is directly under the roof.
On the hottest days the solar turns off early as the pool reaches the desired temperature so the removal of heat stops at that point.
On most mid winter days the attic daily high temperatures are 70f or less.
Space heating in the mid winter there are only a few days when temperatures get up into the 80 s which is pretty much the threshold for useable heating.
Once the solar radiation is absorbed some of the heat still gets ejected to the outside but much of it conducts downward through the roofing materials and roof deck.
The attic floor which is the ceiling of the living space below often already is insulated.
I am in the process of finishing a large bonus room in my ohio home.
I would guess that for 3 months of the year spring and fall we have heat in the attic that could be of use in the dwelling underneath.
Potential uses of attic heat.
It would need a damper to keep from losing heat when not in use.
In other words when you get the basics right your attic insulation and air barrier you then need to focus on other energy.
The installation is in the attic of a house.
There it radiates down into the attic heating up the insulation the framing the ductwork and the boxes of christmas tree ornaments.
Like you i have wondered if attic heat could be used to heat my home.
What do you think.
Reclaim your attic space.
By friga inc remodeling attic remodels attic space general contractor remodeling 0 comments.
If it is and you plan to provide heating and cooling to the finished attic space you need to remove.
This video describes the steps for installing a venmar air exchanger ea 1500 replacing an older air exchanger.
Some rough conclusions so far for our sw montana climate.
If you had a thermostat in the house and in the attic so that it would only run when you need heat and the attic is hot.
Pulling the heat from the sun into the pool before it heats the roof attic and room below has worked out well.
