How To Seal Your Attic

Air seal your attic for energy savings.

How to seal your attic.

Use canned minimally expanding spray foam daptex plus window door foam sealant 7 for 16 ounces. Block any animals from entering your home and keep them out of your home to get them gone for good. 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. While you are in the attic sealing air leaks look for any ductwork that may be up there.

Finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking weather stripping. Attic access sealing and insulation is a great investment but there are often many other opportunities to save energy and live more comfortably. 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. Animals living in your attic can cause damage to the wiring plumbing and structure of your home while also bringing in diseases.

If your hatch rests directly on the moldings add 2 1 2 inch wide stops around the opening. Most people just add insulation to their attic this will not stop the escaping warm air. Air sealing the wall plate around the perimeter of your attic blocks air from escaping around the outer edges of your home. 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.

Without air sealing your attic you are allowing warm air to escape from your home carrying with it your hard earned winter heating money. The stops provide a wider surface for attaching the weatherstrip and a space to mount hook and eye fasteners. Strategies for keeping an attic animal free mainly involve consistent home inspections and maintenance. Consider contacting a trusted attic inspector to inspect your attic further and find opportunities to improve your home s health.

Sealing duct leaks can improve the efficiency of your hvac system by around 20. If you have ducts that aren t sealed you are probably leaking a lot of conditioned air into your attic space. If your hatch rests directly on the moldings like ours did add 2 1 2 in wide stops around the. Then finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking foam weatherstrip photos 10 and 11.