Attic Air Sealing Project
Considering an attic sealing project?
Air sealing in the attic is generally a challenging DIY project, but the benefits can be substantial. If you are doing a major home renovation project, now may be a great time to tackle this project too.
Air sealing in the attic is generally a challenging DIY project, but the benefits can be substantial. If you are doing a major home renovation project, now may be a great time to tackle this project too.
The good news is that, even if you're not comfortable taking on this project yourself, there are many qualified contractors who can help you get the work done. EPA recommends that you complete the attic insulation project after this project.
Use the information below to determine if this project is a good fit for your home, what common problems it can help address, what the potential benefits are, what tools and materials you'll need to complete the project if you choose to do it yourself, important safety considerations, step-by-step instructions for getting the job done and when to seek professional help.
Questions to Consider
Does my home need this project?
Common Symptoms
If your home experiences any of these problems, it might be a good candidate for an attic air sealing project:
- Drafty rooms
- Hot and cold rooms; uneven temperature between rooms
- High heating or cooling bills
- Ice dams in the winter
- Dry indoor air in winter
- Dust (especially in rooms directly below the attic)
What are the potential benefits?
The attic is usually where you can find some of the largest opportunities to save energy in your home. By air sealing in your attic, you can stop many major air leaks and help to maintain the desired temperature throughout your home. Combined with attic insulation, air sealing can help to alleviate the formation of dangerous ice dams in the winter.
If your attic is accessible and not too difficult to move around in, and you enjoy tackling bigger home improvement projects, attic air sealing may be a good DIY project. Otherwise, consider finding a contractor to complete the project for you.
| Doing the Project Yourself | Hiring a Contractor | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of Project | Time (days) | Costs | Time (days) | Costs |
| Difficult | 1−3 | $$$$$ | 1−2 | $$ |
Key: $ = <$100, $$$$$ = >$2,000
EPA's ENERGY STAR program provides great DIY resources to help you get the job done. However, if you find any of the following conditions in your attic, it is recommended that you hire a professional to correct these problems before proceeding:
- Difficult attic access and limited space to work
- Wet or damp insulation, indicating a leaky roof
- Moldy or rotted attic rafters or floor joists, indicating moisture problems
- Kitchen, bathroom or clothes dryer vents that exhaust moist air directly into the attic space instead of outdoors
- Little or no attic ventilation
- Knob and tube wiring (pre-1930), which can be a fire hazard when in contact with insulation
Project Instructions
sbestos. Contact your local health department for the name of an approved lab.
- Gather all your tools and supplies before you begin to minimize trips into and out of the attic.
- Be sure that the work area is well lit by using a drop light, and keep a flashlight handy.
- During hot weather, start working early, as attics heat up as the day goes on.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Wear a lightweight disposable coverall, gloves and hat to keep itchy and irritating insulation off your skin.
- Wear kneepads for attics that require crawling.
- Watch out for nails pointing up through the ceiling or down from roof deck.
- Walk on joists or truss chords, not exposed ceiling drywall or insulation, to avoid falling through the ceiling.
Sealing your home may trap indoor air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, radon and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and create unsafe conditions. Addressing this properly may require additional ventilation fans to maintain safe air quality in the home and repairs to reduce or eliminate the sources of indoor air pollutants. Here are some things to consider before starting your home sealing project:Addressing Indoor Air Quality
Radon
consider contacting a contractor to conduct a radon test and install radon mitigation systems before sealing your home.
Combustion Safety
If you have an appliance that uses oil or gas, consider hiring a Home Performance Contactor to test those appliances to ensure they are properly drafting combustion gasses before and after sealing your home. Sealing in some cases can cause naturally venting combustion appliances to backdraft gases back into your home, creating unsafe conditions.
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