Locating Air Leaks 2 - Getting Started

Inspect Your Attic

Attic air sealing and adding insulation are do-it-yourself projects if your attic is accessible and not too difficult to move around in. What we recommend in this guide can usually be completed in a day or two and will provide benefits for years to come. However, if upon inspection of your attic you find any of the conditions listed below, we recommend you consider hiring a contractor to correct these problems before proceeding.

Get Your Bearings From Below

One way to start home sealing is to make a quick sketch of your home's floor plan. This sketch will help serve as a reference point once you get into the attic and will help you locate areas of leakage. In your sketch, make note of dropped soffits over kitchen cabinets or bath vanities, slanted ceilings over stairways, where walls (interior and exterior) meet the ceiling, and any other dropped-ceiling areas. These areas may have open stud cavities leading directly into the attic and are huge sources of air leaks.

You May Need a Contractor to Correct These Problems

• Wet or damp insulation, which indicates a leaky roof, or warm air from below coming into the attic and condensing on the cold attic ceiling.
• Kitchen or bathroom exhaust vent ducts that vent moist air into the attic instead of to the outside.
• A history of ice dams in the winter (an indication of serious air leaks).
• Little or no attic ventilation.
• Knob and tube wiring (pre-1930), which can be a fire hazard if in contact with insulation.
• Many recessed can lights in the attic floor (if not air tight, and uninsulated they require care when insulating around).

Tips for Working in the Attic

Have a Plan in Place
The key to any successful home improvement project is planning. Gather all your tools and supplies before you begin. This will minimize your trips in and out of the attic. Be sure that the work area is well lit by using a drop light and keeping a flashlight handy.

Prepare to Get Dirty
The entire process of sealing your attic will be made easier if you take the time and effort to wear the right gear. Wear knee pads to help prevent pain associated with crawling on attic joists. Additionally, a lightweight disposable coverall, gloves and hat can keep itchy and irritating insulation off your skin.

Above All - Be Safe
Take precautions to avoid a dangerous working environment in the attic. During hot weather start working early, as attics heat up as the day moves on. Drink plenty of water and use an OSHA-approved particulate respirator or double-strap dust mask to prevent inhalation of hazardous substances. Also remember to watch your step - walk on ceiling joists or truss chords, not your ceiling drywall.

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