Air Sealing Attic

While you are in the attic sealing air leaks look for any ductwork that may be up there.

Air sealing attic.

If you are not a do it yourself type of person there are plenty of contractors who are able to seal your attic. Let s review some of the most common spots in the attic that must be sealed. The attic is prone to holes and cracks at its access points. Sealing duct leaks can improve the efficiency of your hvac system by around 20.

Before air sealing the attic. Other items like chimneys and recessed lights require special methods. If your hatch rests directly on the moldings like ours did add 2 1 2 in wide stops around the. Most people just add insulation to their attic this will not stop the escaping warm air.

It s usually the hardest place to air seal because the cramped space underneath the eaves where the roof rafters rest on the outer wall makes it hard to move your hands and head. By air sealing in your attic you can stop many major air leaks and help to maintain the desired temperature throughout your home. If you have ducts that aren t sealed you are probably leaking a lot of conditioned air into your attic space. Any hole in your ceiling is called a thermal bypass or air leak.

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. Without air sealing your attic you are allowing warm air to escape from your home carrying with it your hard earned winter heating money. 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. The attic is usually where you can find some of the largest opportunities to save energy in your home.

Then finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking foam weatherstrip photos 10 and 11. Combined with attic insulation air sealing can help to alleviate the formation of dangerous ice dams in the winter. We spray foam around most of these including around light fixtures bathroom fans open wall cavities and plumbing stacks. Lights fans plumbing stacks chimneys etc.