Attic Air Leaks

Air seal your attic for energy savings.

Attic air leaks.

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. With these systems condensate leaks can lead to a big mess but it s nothing compared to a condensate leak that occurs at an air conditioner in an attic or really any place that has finished. Here s how to locate the leak spots and plug them without spending a lot of money. Small air leaks into uninsulated attic space are a major source of heat loss in many homes.

One is the use of a blower door test. Seal it by caulking between the hatch frame and the rough opening or by installing foam weatherstripping around the perimeter of the hatch opening. Most people just add insulation to their attic this will not stop the escaping warm air. Finding air leaks can be time consuming but there are some tricks that will not only speed up the job but make the inspection much more accurate.

Seal attic air leaks first. Chances are your ceiling has the equivalent of a 2 ft. A large fan at the front door will pull air out of an otherwise closed up house creating drafts from leaks that are much easier to detect than the typical slow. A quarter inch gap around pull down attic stairs or an attic hatch leaks the same amount of air as a bedroom heating duct.

Without air sealing your attic you are allowing warm air to escape from your home carrying with it your hard earned winter heating money. Any small crack or gap in the attic can be a source of. Don t worry too much about the small leaks. 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.

The attic is usually where you can find some of the largest opportunities to save energy in your home. 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. Attic insulation air sealing experts enjoy a more comfortable healthy and efficient home with quality attic insulation services.

Or you can buy a pre insulated hatch cover kit for about 150. The first spot to check is where the floors meet the wall. Combined with attic insulation air sealing can help to alleviate the formation of dangerous ice dams in the winter.