How to Seal Your Attic for Year-Round Energy Efficiency
What Air Leakage Contributes To
Air leaking leads to poor air quality in your home and may even contribute to issues with moisture. You might even notice you can’t seem to heat or cool your home to a comfortable temperature no matter how you set your thermostat. Knowing how to seal your attic will correct this issue.
What to Use and Where to Seal
Find the leaks through clues such as dirty spots or mold on the insulation. Additionally, certain areas in your attic that are more prone to leaks are the corners and around exposed ductwork. Visually inspect outdoor water faucets, where the siding and chimney meet, door and window frames, baseboards, phone lines — look for any place where conditioned air might be leaking out, or the outside air may be leaking in.
Then try caulking, weather stripping or using spray foam to seal the leaks, including around windows, doors, pipes and wirin . Consider storm windows or windows with double-paned glass.
The Attic
Locate areas where big leakage is likely to occur — where the attic floor meets the walls, under or behind attic kneewalls, or where there are dropped soffits (dropped ceilings). Look for dirty insulation — that’s a sign air is moving through it. Push it back, plug stud cavities and replace the insulation.
Among the materials you’ll need for proper attic insulation:
- Fiberglass batts or rolls of insulation
- Expanding spray foam insulation for larger gaps
- High-temperature, heat-resistant caulk for sealing around chimneys and flues
- Silicone or acrylic latex caulk for small holes
- Caulk gun, boards to walk on, flashlight, bucket to carry supplies
A leaky attic can cost you money. With a few supplies such as fiberglass batts, caulking and a caulking gun, you’re able to prevent your hard-earned cash from leaking out the seems of your attic.
