Attic Insulation Air Sealing

When your attic lacks the proper attic insulation and air sealing the effects on your home s comfort and energy efficiency are significant.

Attic insulation air sealing.

Your attic is vital to your home s overall comfort health and energy efficiency. Attics are often under insulated and under sealed leading to wasted energy and wasted spend by the homeowners. Attic air sealing is the priority your focus should be on the attic when you begin air sealing. You can seal large stud cavities in your attic around dropped soffits under kneewalls and around recessed lights by stuffing insulation into a garbage bag and then plugging the cavity with it.

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. Air seal your attic for energy savings. Gaps in the attic or between the lower floors and the attic will let heated or cooled air escape to the great unconditioned outdoors making any insulation you add essentially useless. The number one prep step.

Seal air leaks throughout the house focusing on leaks to the attic space through the foundation and around windows and doors to achieve a 25 reduction in total air infiltration. Imagine that you have a small boat and steered it into a cluster of jagged rocks. Most people just add insulation to their attic this will not stop the escaping warm air. Plus it prevents moisture build up inside your attic which improves your home s durability.

Add insulation to improve r values in attics floors above unconditioned basements and crawlspaces and basement walls to meet the 2012 international energy conservation code insulation requirements. An attic that doesn t meet insulation standards will lead to high heating and cooling costs uncomfortable rooms and uneven temperatures throughout your home. Find a diagram of common air leaks here here s a quick primer on fixing draft prone spots. In addition to lowering your energy bills and making your home more comfortable attic insulation and air sealing makes your home less likely to develop problematic and damaging ice dams.

If your attic isn t properly air sealed and insulated you will experience uncomfortable rooms uneven temperatures throughout the home dust mold and expensive heating and cooling costs. Then finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking foam weatherstrip photos 10 and 11. Attic insulation and air sealing energy saving calculator learn how insulation and air sealing can save you energy and money by using our product payback tools below. If your hatch rests directly on the moldings like ours did add 2 1 2 in wide stops around the opening.

One of the most cost effective ways to improve energy efficiency and comfort is by insulating and air sealing your home.