Air conditioning in an attic: how to cool the hottest rooms

A converted attic is usually the hottest part of a house in summer. The roof heats up in the sun and the heat passes into the rooms, often through roof windows too. Air conditioning in an attic therefore needs sufficient output and a well-chosen position, especially with sloping walls.

Why an attic is more demanding

• heat comes through the roof all day,
• roof windows let in a lot of sun,
• warm air accumulates at the top of the house,
• sloping walls limit the space for the indoor unit.

Output

For an attic, it is not enough to count only the floor area. We take into account the roof insulation, the size and orientation of the roof windows and the height of the room. Read more in the article What air conditioner output do I need? What it depends on.

Type of indoor unit

• wall-mounted – if a vertical wall of sufficient height is available,
• floor-standing – suitable under slopes or on a low wall,
• ducted – during a renovation, if there is space in a suspended ceiling (Air conditioning during a renovation: what to prepare in advance).

Shading helps

External shading of roof windows significantly reduces the amount of heat the air conditioner has to remove. Together with air conditioning, it is the most effective solution.

Several rooms in the attic

If there are bedrooms and a study in the attic, a multi-split with one outdoor unit may be suitable – Split or multi-split air conditioning: the differences and when to choose which.

Heating in the attic

Air conditioning in an attic is often also used for extra heating in spring and autumn – Heating with an air conditioner: is it worth it?.

We will propose a solution

Send us photos of the attic and approximate dimensions. We will propose the type and output of a Daikin air conditioner and its position. Contact us or see Daikin air conditioners.