Air Sealing Attic Door

Combined with attic insulation air sealing can help to alleviate the formation of dangerous ice dams in the winter.

Air sealing attic door.

Install foam gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on walls. Apply weather stripping to the door to create a seal. Double check that there is a full seal by taking a lit incense stick and holding it around the perimeter of your attic door. Seal attic floor holes.

Do not undercut the door. Install weather stripping along the inside door frame and threshold. 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. The stops provide a wider surface for attaching the weatherstrip and a space to mount hook and eye fasteners.

Install a latch that will pull the door tight to the frame and the weather stripping. Your attic door or drop down attic stairs are a major source of air leakage. It s by far the largest hole in your ceiling and it s probably costing you a fortune. Blocking the air from leaking through the attic door is one of the most important things you can do.

If your hatch rests directly on the moldings like ours did add 2 1 2 in wide stops around the. Air seal the hatch perimeter the plywood hatch rests on a small wood strip lip. Test your home for air tightness. This can also be beefed up to a sealing gasket like the one on your refrigerator door.

By air sealing in your attic you can stop many major air leaks and help to maintain the desired temperature throughout your home. The attic is usually where you can find some of the largest opportunities to save energy in your home. For visual aid on how to complete this project check out this video. Air sealing the attic door.

Your options for air sealing the attic door are. Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing ducting or electrical wiring comes through walls floors ceilings and soffits over cabinets. How to air seal an attic door. When the attic access is sealed and insulated heat transfer between conditioned and unconditioned parts of the home is further prevented.

Then finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking foam weatherstrip photos 10 and 11. It s easy to overlook electrical wires ducts pipes and vents in the attic but the openings around these are holes can compromise the air sealing of your attic. If you have any questions about insulating and air sealing your attic don t hesitate to contact hiller. The latch should lay flush against the frame.

Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows that leak air. Sealing the attic hatch or door if your hatch rests directly on the moldings add 2 1 2 inch wide stops around the opening. Affix foam insulation to the attic side of the door. Gaskets are generally more durable and produce a tighter seal.

Inspect dirty spots in your insulation for air leaks and. Better yet there are high quality products such as the attic gator designed to both seal and insulate attic access doors and scuttle holes.