In warmer weather you ll find water staining in these same areas.
How to air seal tight areas in attic framing.
At the better level we are doing everything we can to stop air flow at the outside wall.
Your attic door or drop down attic stairs are a major source of air leakage.
Insulate and seal the area behind kneewalls by filling a large garbage bag with a 24 inch piece of fiberglass insulation and stuffing it into the open joist space underneath the wall.
If the area is wider than a 1 4 the caulk can fall out of the groove.
This critical area to seal is actually very tricky.
Once in the attic space look for duct work that needs air sealing and insulation.
See the attic air sealing guide and details.
There is typically a gap between the framing of.
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.
While you are in the attic sealing air leaks look for.
In this video i ll show you how to do it inside outside.
Seal fireplace and furnace holes.
Just like with the good air sealing methods i prefoam framing cavities and take care sealing details and penetrations with foam caulk and tape.
I recently had an energy audit done and the auditor gave me a quote for air sealing the attic sealing top plates and any wire plumbing and lighting penetrations.
Air sealing the attic door.
This is time well spent.
In cold weather you may see frosty areas in the insulation caused by warm moist air condensing and freezing as it hits the cold attic air.
You can also use a rigid foam board combined with some spray foam to insulate the open joist cavities.
Air sealing should be done before insulation is installed.
It s by far the largest hole in your ceiling and it s probably costing you a fortune.
If you pressurize the house with a window fan you may be able to feel the leaks with your hand as the air finds its way into the attic.
Once the drywall is hung these areas will be inaccessible.
For larger holes filler material may be needed.
The acrylic latex caulk is for all the gaps that are small enough for the caulk to function properly such as the base plate and the seam between the floor and wall and the fire rated caulk is non combustible and for any areas where wires penetrate through base.
If this work is being undertaken as part of a project to insulate the attic consider other attic air sealing activities before insulation is installed.
Your options for air sealing the attic door are.
Blocking the air from leaking through the attic door is one of the most important things you can do.
To seal these openings use caulk or spray foam.
