Attic Sealing And Insulation

Ventilation issues shall be addressed before proceeding with attic air sealing or insulation.

Attic sealing and insulation.

If there is active knob and tube wiring present in the attic insulation shall not be installed until wiring is replaced or properly boxed. You need to make sure that ductwork is properly sealed to prevent moisture build up in. 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. Contractor or insulation installer s fee.

The main factors that impact the cost are. Epa estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15 on heating and cooling costs or an average of 11 on total energy costs by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics floors over crawl spaces and accessible basement rim joists. The easiest way to find air leaks is with a blower door. There are four basic steps to sealing attic air leaks.

Insulation level are specified by r value. Before you think about heading into your attic to seal air leaks and add insulation here are the things you will need first. If your hatch rests directly on the moldings like ours did add 2 1 2 in wide stops around the. Square footage of your attic.

The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Type and material of your insulation. Expect to pay an attic insulation installer about 70 per hour. Then finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking foam weatherstrip photos 10 and 11.

Methodology for estimated energy savings from cost effective air sealing and insulating. 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. If you want to add insulation remember that air leaks have to be sealed first. The attic is usually where you can find some of the largest opportunities to save energy in your home.

Increasing attic insulation is a fairly complicated diy project 1 3 days or a full weekend but is completely doable if you have the right materials and information. In some cases a theatrical fog machine is also very useful. Combined with attic air sealing it can also help to alleviate the formation of dangerous ice dams in the winter. Once this air sealing work is done you may want to add more insulation to your attic floor.

The attic shall be inspected for sufficient attic ventilation e g ridge vent soffit vent. By adding insulation in your attic you can maintain the desired temperature throughout your home much better. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it. Expect to pay an additional 85 per hour for this service.