Attic Temperature Vs Outside Temperature

I have recently added a ridge vent to my roof and have also been taking temperature readings.

Attic temperature vs outside temperature.

Should there be a difference between a 78 degree day and a 98 degree day. Warner is right that the attic should be close to the outside temp. Interior attic air exterior air inner and outer sheathing and internal rafter temperatures of black and white shingled chambers were monitored. Attics can reach temperatures of 150 to 160 degrees f during a summer day although outside air temperatures are only 95 to 97 degrees f.

However more often than not. Your insulating and heating cooling the house not the attic. What should the attic temperature be relative to the outside and house temperatures assuming a new supposedly well insulated house. What should be the difference between outside inside temperature of an attic on a summer day versus a winter day.

Temperatures were measured using thermocouples and recorded over a 3 year period from october 1991 through september 1994 using a datalogger multiplexer device. Ideally you don t want it any hotter than it is outside but reality generally prevent this from happening. Simply undertstand that the insulation in your inner envelope ceiling attic floor must insulate the inner envelope of your house living area against whatever temp is in your attic. A check the temperature an hour before sunrise.

A good sign is when you open your attic in the winter and you don t see any frost on the nails poking through. Ideal attic temperatures shouldn t be more than 10 to 20 degrees hotter than outside temperatures.