Radiant Heat Barrier Vs Attic Fan

If you install a radiant barrier it will drop the surface temperatures inside the attic compared to the air temperature in the attic.

Radiant heat barrier vs attic fan.

This is really what drives heat flow the top surface temperature of the insulation. However the fine print exists when the best available radiant barrier paint can only reflect about 75 of the radiant heat transfer. Meanwhile the radiant barrier foil will reflect 97 of the radiant heat transfer. Total diy radiant barrier comparison cost vs savings.

Total diy radiant barrier installation costs w attic fan. Here is where many people screw up attic ventilation. Installing radiant barrier under the roof decking is the preferred method versus on top of the insulation because it gives an air gap for the heat to escape to the ridge vent without creating a potential moisture problem between the radiant barrier and the attic floor. 95 of homeowners will not be able to install a roof mounted attic fan with temp switch or proper venting.

A cooler attic space means less heat moving to the cooler space below the attic. Not emit radiant heat. The hotter it gets the better radiant barriers work. For the record both the radiant barrier spray paint and the radiant barrier foil will reflect i e.

This would be like blowing a giant fan on your sunny driveway and expecting it not to be hot. More is not always better. Radiant barrier should always be installed to work with the soffit and ridge. Air temperatures would drop but surface temperatures would not drop much due to the radiant heat gain.