Air Seal your attic before insulating
by
SLS Construction & Building Solutions LLC
(IC: professional)
When one pops there head into the attic they may see something similar to the first picture & think that hey, I need some more insulation. I have lost count of how many people have simply seen something on TV or had an "energy audit" done where they recommended more insulation & I get called in later as they are still uncomfortable or having issues.
While I agree that the attic below definitely needs more insulation, there were a few things that need to be dealt with first. You see in order for insulation to work optimally it needs to be enclosed on all six sides which needless to say, doesn't fly when it comes to an attic. That is one reason why the R-Values are nearly doubled or tripled in the attic area when compared to walls. So what happens when you add air-leakage underneath – well it really cuts down on its performance.
While we had to remove the insulation in this area of the house,that is not always the case. If you don't have issues with mice, etc... you can simply move it out of the way & fix the problem areas. Some of the most common spots are;
· Wire & plumbing penetrations – use appropriate foam or caulk
· Drywall edges – foam or caulk
· Chases & soffits – foam board, drywall, or plywood to cap
· Around electrical boxes & exhaust fans - foam or caulk
· Stoves & furnace vents – this is a big "it depends" & sometimes is best left to a professional (especially for fireplaces), but fire rated caulk / foam & Roxul are commonly used
· Recessed lights – is it IC rated or Non-IC rated (http://blog.sls-construction.com/2011/rip-recessed-light)
Is that the end... no as this attic had 2 bathroom vents that simply dumped their moisture in the attic, baffles that were non-existent and a few other items. Alas those are special issues that easily take up a full piece themselves.
This post is a modified version of http://blog.sls-construction.com/2011/air-sealing-attic-penetrations.If you are considering or having this work done we encourage you to check out the full article & the rest of the http://blog.sls-construction.com/category/tips/air-sealing-insulation series.
While I agree that the attic below definitely needs more insulation, there were a few things that need to be dealt with first. You see in order for insulation to work optimally it needs to be enclosed on all six sides which needless to say, doesn't fly when it comes to an attic. That is one reason why the R-Values are nearly doubled or tripled in the attic area when compared to walls. So what happens when you add air-leakage underneath – well it really cuts down on its performance.
While we had to remove the insulation in this area of the house,that is not always the case. If you don't have issues with mice, etc... you can simply move it out of the way & fix the problem areas. Some of the most common spots are;
· Wire & plumbing penetrations – use appropriate foam or caulk
· Drywall edges – foam or caulk
· Chases & soffits – foam board, drywall, or plywood to cap
· Around electrical boxes & exhaust fans - foam or caulk
· Stoves & furnace vents – this is a big "it depends" & sometimes is best left to a professional (especially for fireplaces), but fire rated caulk / foam & Roxul are commonly used
· Recessed lights – is it IC rated or Non-IC rated (http://blog.sls-construction.com/2011/rip-recessed-light)
Is that the end... no as this attic had 2 bathroom vents that simply dumped their moisture in the attic, baffles that were non-existent and a few other items. Alas those are special issues that easily take up a full piece themselves.
This post is a modified version of http://blog.sls-construction.com/2011/air-sealing-attic-penetrations.If you are considering or having this work done we encourage you to check out the full article & the rest of the http://blog.sls-construction.com/category/tips/air-sealing-insulation series.
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Published February 13th, 2013 9:40 AM
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John White on Jun 04, 2018
This article is really helpful for those who wondering about the insulation to increase the effectiveness of their home insulation. Proper attic insulation and restoration will seal the gaps or cracks that might permit moisture heat, pest to enter your attic, In addition of that it also helps you to reduces energy expenses during chilling summer season by producing cool temperature inside home and resisting heat transfer from warm air outside. You should try to contact HVAC maintenance provider near you.
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we lie in a mobile home. during the last cold storm it was cold and we dripped the water to keep from freezing do you have a plan for winterizing a mobile home