Air Seal Attic Insulation

Home comfort problems often start in the attic where poor insulation and numerous air leaks create problems for your heating and cooling system and make your home uncomfortable.

Air seal attic insulation.

Combined with attic insulation air sealing can help to alleviate the formation of dangerous ice dams in the winter. The attic is usually where you can find some of the largest opportunities to save energy in your home. The number one prep step. You need to make sure that ductwork is properly sealed to prevent moisture build up in the attic.

Top plates of walls. Without air sealing your attic you are allowing warm air to escape from your home carrying with it your hard earned winter heating money. If your hatch rests directly on the moldings like ours did add 2 1 2 in wide stops around the. If you have a fan pull down stairs or other fixtures in the attic they also need to be sealed.

When you re done sealing your attic bypasses push the insulation back into place with an old broom handle or stick as you back out of the attic. Most people just add insulation to their attic this will not stop the escaping warm air. Increasing attic insulation is a fairly complicated diy project 1 3 days or a full weekend but is completely doable if you have the right materials and information. If you are not a do it yourself type of person there are plenty of contractors who are able to seal your attic.

The attic is prone to holes and cracks at its access points. Attic air sealing and air barriers prior to insulation all gaps cracks seams and penetrations between conditioned and unconditioned space such as gaps around lighting fixtures hvac duct boots electric wiring plumbing pipes and flues shall be sealed with sealants alone e g caulk foam aerosol sealant if the gaps are narrow enough or with rigid blocking material. Proper air sealing not only conserves energy and saves you money but also makes home improvements like new windows and insulation more effective. Before you think about heading into your attic to seal air leaks and add insulation here are the things you will need first.

Find a diagram of common air leaks here here s a quick primer on fixing draft prone spots. Then finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking foam weatherstrip photos 10 and 11. Your attic needs to have good ventilation to prevent problems. Seal duct boots recessed light housing or electrical boxes directly to your ceiling to stop leaking conditioned air and keep attic air where it belongs in your attic.

Air seal your attic for energy savings. If you are going to be adding insulation to your attic it could be beneficial to seal your drywall to the top plates of your walls or the. By air sealing in your attic you can stop many major air leaks and help to maintain the desired temperature throughout your home.