We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Home

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Best Tips for Cost-Effective Attic Heating?

Diane Goettel
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 11,358
Share

The most cost-effective methods of attic heating include the use of insulation and ventilation. In many cases, people do not need to alter or replace their heating systems in order to properly heat their attics. This is because heat rises and, with proper insulation and ventilation, an attic can be kept comfortably warm even in the coldest winter months. One of the reasons that may attics are drafty and cold is that they are not properly insulated and they are also cut off from the rest of the house. There are a number of cost-effective ways to change these two things in order to turn a chilly attic space into a warm, comfortable living space.

If an attic is not already insulated, then the homeowner will have to choose what type of insulation to install. If the attic is insufficiently insulated, then the homeowner will have to decide whether the insulation should be replaced or merely supplemented. Another important step in cost-effective attic heating is assessing the windows in the attic. Windows that are loose in their frames or are made of single-pane glass can allow a great deal of heat to escape. A cost-effective way to deal with windows that are leaking heat is to have them covered in plastic wrap that can be removed in the summer when the windows will be opened again.

Once the attic has been properly insulated, the next step is to make sure that heat from the rest of the house can get into the attic. This may be as simple as keeping a door to the attic open on a more regular basis or even removing the door from its hinges and storing it. Some attics have pull-down staircases that, when open, obstruct a hallway. In these cases, it may be necessary to install a few vents in the floor of the attic. These vents will allow warm air from the rest of the house to rise into the attic.

Attic heating for very small attics may be as simple as the occasional use of a space heater. This kind of attic heating is usually not ideal for larger spaces and only works well if the attic has been insulated. A slightly more expensive way to deal with attic heating is to install double-paned windows that maximize the amount of sun that enters the attic.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Diane Goettel
By Diane Goettel
"Diane Goettel has a BA from Sarah Lawrence College and an MA in English from Brooklyn College. Diane lives in Mount Vernon, New York with her husband, Noah. They are the proud parents of a Doberman Pinscher named Spoon. Specialties: book editing, book marketing, book publishing, freelance writing, magazine publishing, magazine writing, copywriting,"

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By Sporkasia — On Oct 01, 2014

Heating is much less of an issue with an attic than simple ventilation. You want to have a good venting system in your home attic to lessen the chances of mold growing. I think a good venting fan or several of them is the best way to go in terms of keeping the moisture out of the attic.

The fan will keep the air circulating and lower the temperature in the attic during the summer. We all want to save money on energy, but in terms of attics it is much more important to prevent mold from getting a foothold.

By Drentel — On Oct 01, 2014

@Laotionne - I don't worry about any additional heating in my attic. As this article explains, all the heat from the main living quarters of a house is going to rise, and since the ceiling of this part of the house is the attic floor this heat alone is going to raise the attic temperature some.

In my opinion, you should be more concerned if you don't have a special way of heating the attic and your attic is still getting warm. This means you are losing too much heat through your ceiling. Insulate the attic and you should be good to go.

Also, if you are concerned the attic is too cold then take the advice mentioned in the article and open the attic door for a little while until the attic warms up a bit.

By Laotionne — On Sep 30, 2014

I went into my mother's attic last winter and it was freezing up there. So, I am wondering whether heating the attic is something the average homeowner should be concerned about. I mean, if the attic is only used for storage is there any problem with letting it get cold in the winter?

I can understand the attic needing some type of heating system if you are using it as living space. Otherwise, why bother? I think a small portable heater like mentioned in the article would be the most she would need. And she would only need that when she is going to be up there for a while.

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
"Diane Goettel has a BA from Sarah Lawrence College and an MA in English from Brooklyn College. Diane lives in Mount...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-best-tips-for-cost-effective-attic-heating.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.