Air Sealing Attic

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.

Air sealing attic.

Air sealing the wall plate around the perimeter of your attic blocks air from escaping around the outer edges of your home. Then finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking foam weatherstrip photos 10 and 11. Without air sealing your attic you are allowing warm air to escape from your home carrying with it your hard earned winter heating money. Combined with attic insulation air sealing can help to alleviate the formation of dangerous ice dams in the winter.

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. Most people just add insulation to their attic this will not stop the escaping warm air. We spray foam around most of these including around light fixtures bathroom fans open wall cavities and plumbing stacks. Air seal your attic for energy savings.

Sealing duct leaks can improve the efficiency of your hvac system by around 20. For more information on vermiculite and asbestos see. Lights fans plumbing stacks chimneys etc. The attic is prone to holes and cracks at its access points.

That s an expensive proposition unfortunately because the work must usually be done by an asbestos abatement contractor. Any hole in your ceiling is called a thermal bypass or air leak. Before air sealing the attic. While you are in the attic sealing air leaks look for any ductwork that may be up there.

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. Properly air sealing an attic with vermiculite insulation requires that the vermiculite be removed. If you have ducts that aren t sealed you are probably leaking a lot of conditioned air into your attic space. By air sealing in your attic you can stop many major air leaks and help to maintain the desired temperature throughout your home.

If your hatch rests directly on the moldings like ours did add 2 1 2 in wide stops around the. 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.