Attic Air Leaks

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Attic air leaks.

Seal attic air leaks first. The attic is usually where you can find some of the largest opportunities to save energy in your home. A quarter inch gap around pull down attic stairs or an attic hatch leaks the same amount of air as a bedroom heating duct. Chances are your ceiling has the equivalent of a 2 ft.

You want to be paying attention to the big ones. Without air sealing your attic you are allowing warm air to escape from your home carrying with it your hard earned winter heating money. Here s how to locate the leak spots and plug them without spending a lot of money. Adding attic ventilation without ensuring that there is a solid air barrier between the attic and the living space will make air and heat from the house leak out faster because the attic will be colder in the winter and the rate at which air leaves the building will increase.

Before you start adding any attic insulation you want to make sure that all or most air leaks have been sealed first. By air sealing in your attic you can stop many major air leaks and help to maintain the desired temperature throughout your home. Or you can buy a pre insulated hatch cover kit for about 150. One is the use of a blower door test.

Any small crack or gap in the attic can be a source of. Most people just add insulation to their attic this will not stop the escaping warm air. Small air leaks into uninsulated attic space are a major source of heat loss in many homes. Air leaks also commonly occur at the edge of top plates which normally have a small gap of less than an inch between the plates and drywall.

Seal it by caulking between the hatch frame and the rough opening or by installing foam weatherstripping around the perimeter of the hatch opening. Don t worry too much about the small leaks. Air seal your attic for energy savings. Combined with attic insulation air sealing can help to alleviate the formation of dangerous ice dams in the winter.

The first spot to check is where the floors meet the wall. 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. Attic insulation air sealing experts enjoy a more comfortable healthy and efficient home with quality attic insulation services.