Old Man Winter is standing on his last legs. How effective was your home in keeping him outdoors where he belongs? Did you notice where he was getting in? Or where your hard earned dollars were getting out?
Ice damns or an abundance of icicles on the eves of your roof are sure indications that warm, interior air is leaking into your attic at a high rate. You may also notice that the snow melts faster on certain areas of your roof consistently. This tells you there is an air leak in the vicinity. In the past the solution was to add more insulation, which helps, but should be the second step.
As we discussed in the last issue, air sealing is #1. This is a great time of year for you do it yourselfers to get up into the attic and start poking around. Not too hot, not too cold. You’ll need to get under the existing insulation and find penetrations where air can escape. Look for holes around plumbing pipes and electrical wiring. Also look for where your partition walls meet the ceiling. There are often gaps around the top plate that are a clear path to the attic. Seal the larger gaps with expandable spray foam and the smaller gaps (under ¼”) with caulking. CAUTION; If you have recessed lighting be certain they are rated for contact with insulation. If you are unsure consult an expert for this could be a fire hazard.
Now for the insulation. The most common is fiberglass batts or blanket insulation. It’s inexpensive to both purchase and to install. For fiberglass insulation to be effective it must be installed properly. Any gaps or compression reduce its effectiveness. Proper installation where there are obstructions or oddly spaced joists can be very difficult. In an attic with R-38 insulation (12”), gaps of 2% of the surface lower the performance to about R-22. That’s more than a 40% reduction! With this in mind, examine your current insulation. Is it a snug fit without gaps or tears? Is it full of dirt? If you observe these issues it may be time to replace it. Blown in cellulose is a great alternative. It settles into all the nooks and crannies to give you more complete coverage. It’s also one of the most eco-friendly insulations on the market. Machinery is necessary to blow the cellulose to where you want it. You could call the pros or you could rent the proper equipment and do it yourself.
Before you leave the attic look at your hatch cover. Does it have an air tight seal and or insulation? This is a common area where substantial losses occur. There are many products on the market. Seal and Shield makes a variety of attic access insulation and air sealing panels or you can get creative and make your own with foam board and weather stripping.
If you have cold and drafty spots in your home that you don’t know how to handle call a BPI accredited contractor. They’ll be able to help. They can also come up with solutions to insulate those seemingly non-accessible areas of your home.
Patrick Maloney
Energy Management Solutions
864-5006
www.onestopenergy.com