Seal Attic Space

In the past year i ve been on an energy hog hunt in my house and landed on air sealing.

Seal attic space.

We need to seal the air in our conditioned living space from the unconditioned attic space. The science behind attic ventilation however is sound. The easiest way to find air leaks is with a blower door. We are not stopping the proper air exchange in the attic we are only stopping the exchange between the house and the attic.

Once this air sealing work is done you may want to add more insulation to your attic floor. Better yet there are high quality products such as the attic gator designed to both seal and insulate attic access doors and scuttle holes. Even when outside air is hot and humid if the attic space is air sealed from the interior it is much hotter than outside air. Every attic needs proper ventilation.

Position the screw eyes so the weatherstrip is slightly compressed when the hooks are latched. Combined with attic insulation air sealing can help to alleviate the formation of dangerous ice dams in the winter. The air barrier used to isolate the living space from the attic is usually the taped drywall while the thermal barrier is the insulation placed on top of the drywall. Whenever you make energy improvements like sealing attic bypasses that result in a tighter house install carbon.

By air sealing in your attic you can stop many major air leaks and help to maintain the desired temperature throughout your home. The stops provide a wider surface for attaching the weatherstrip and a space to mount hook and eye fasteners. 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. Absolute humidity the air space can hold.

To properly seal your attic hatch also known as an attic door or scuttle hole at a minimum you should apply weather stripping and ensure the attic side of the attic door is insulated. In general you will have a higher chance of creating a truly well insulated and sealed attic environment through an attic access cover. Find a diagram of common air leaks here here s a quick primer on fixing draft prone spots. And the extra heat is not just a summer concern.

In some cases a theatrical fog machine is also very useful. The attic is usually where you can find some of the largest opportunities to save energy in your home. The hotter the air the more moisture i e. There are four basic steps to sealing attic air leaks.

If you want to add insulation remember that air leaks have to be sealed first. Typically the ceiling is not a single horizontal plane but a series of horizontal planes vertical planes. How to seal attic pull down stairs recommended solution. Sealed attics trap excessive heat and moisture which can lead to reduced shingle life.

Therefore replacing the hotter attic air with cooler outside air even at a considerably higher relative humidity rh tends to.