The #1 Thing to Do Before Adding Attic Insulation to Your Home

January 13, 2015

Do you already know how to tell you need more attic insulation and the types of insulation?

Great!

But before you jump straight to installation, there’s something you need to do: seal your attic’s air leaks!

Why sealing your attic’s air leaks is important

You’re likely adding insulation to your attic because you want to cut your cooling bills, right?

Well, that won’t work well if there are large air leaks in your attic, allowing your air conditioned air to escape.

You may cut your energy bills, but you won’t be taking full advantage of the new insulation.

It’d be like buying a new, more efficient car but not fully inflating its tires. It still might be more efficient than your old car, but it will be much less efficient than it could be.

Common air leaks in the attic

Here are some common air leaks in your attic that cost you money if left unsealed.

Side note: Want to seal the attic yourself? Check out ENERGY STAR’s DIY Guide to Sealing and Insulating for more information.

Vents
Many of the vents and pipes that go through your home’s ceiling and into the attic are likely not sealed.

These can include:

  • Furnace and water heater flues
  • Bathroom fan vents
  • Plumbing vents

Electrical boxes

The electrical boxes that ceiling lights and fixtures hang from should be sealed with caulk.

The attic door/hatch

If your attic door is in your home, it should be sealed with weather stripping and insulated. Otherwise you’re losing a lot of cooled air through that door.

Soffits

If your home has soffits, they should be sealed in the attic using caulk and foil-backed insulation for maximum energy efficiency.

Knee walls

Knee walls should have insulation under the knee wall where it meets the attic floor. Alternatively, they can be sealed off with rigid foam board and caulk.

Get professional help

Need a professional to help you seal and insulate your Fort Myers-area home? Contact Advanced Air.