Air Sealing Attic Door

Do not undercut the door.

Air sealing attic door.

Your attic door or drop down attic stairs are a major source of air leakage. Combined with attic insulation air sealing can help to alleviate the formation of dangerous ice dams in the winter. Then finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking foam weatherstrip photos 10 and 11. Blocking the air from leaking through the attic door is one of the most important things you can do.

By air sealing in your attic you can stop many major air leaks and help to maintain the desired temperature throughout your home. 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. It s by far the largest hole in your ceiling and it s probably costing you a fortune. Install foam gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on walls.

If your hatch rests directly on the moldings like ours did add 2 1 2 in wide stops around the. Use spray foam to air seal these openings if they exist. Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows that leak air. This can also be beefed up to a sealing gasket like the one on your refrigerator door.

Sealing the attic hatch or door if your hatch rests directly on the moldings add 2 1 2 inch wide stops around the opening. The attic is usually where you can find some of the largest opportunities to save energy in your home. The latch should lay flush against the frame. Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing ducting or electrical wiring comes through walls floors ceilings and soffits over cabinets.

Install weather stripping along the inside door frame and threshold. Double check that there is a full seal by taking a lit incense stick and holding it around the perimeter of your attic door. 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. When the attic access is sealed and insulated heat transfer between conditioned and unconditioned parts of the home is further prevented.

Inspect dirty spots in your insulation for air leaks and. Affix foam insulation to the attic side of the door. Air seal the hatch perimeter the plywood hatch rests on a small wood strip lip. Your options for air sealing the attic door are.

How to air seal an attic door. Air sealing the attic door. Apply weather stripping to the door to create a seal. The standard air sealing recommendation is to install a compression bulb weatherstrip.

Test your home for air tightness. Insulate the attic side of the door by gluing rigid foam to it or attaching batt insulation with screws and wire. If you have any questions about insulating and air sealing your attic don t hesitate to contact hiller. For visual aid on how to complete this project check out this video.

Install a latch that will pull the door tight to the frame and the weather stripping. The stops provide a wider surface for attaching the weatherstrip and a space to mount hook and eye fasteners.