How To Air Seal Attic Door

To properly seal your attic hatch also known as an attic door or scuttle hole at a minimum you should apply weather stripping and ensure the attic side of the attic door is insulated.

How to air seal attic door.

This creates an air tight seal. Weatherstrip the edges and put a piece of rigid foam board insulation on the back of the door. 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. This can also be beefed up to a sealing gasket like the one on your refrigerator door.

Double check that there is a full seal by taking a lit incense stick and holding it around the perimeter of your attic door. Install a gasket around attic access openings to air seal between the opening and the panel covering. Air seal your attic for energy savings. The standard air sealing recommendation is to install a compression bulb weatherstrip.

Better yet there are high quality products such as the attic gator designed to both seal and insulate attic access doors and scuttle holes. Then finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking foam weatherstrip photos 10 and 11. Air seal the hatch perimeter the plywood hatch rests on a small wood strip lip. Apply weather stripping to the door to create a seal.

Air seal attic access panels and drop down stairs to minimize air leakage. Affix foam insulation to the attic side of the door. If you have any questions about insulating and air sealing your attic don t hesitate to contact hiller. If your hatch rests directly on the moldings like ours did add 2 1 2 in wide stops around the.

Pre made insulated attic stair covers are also available from local home improvement centers or on the. When the attic access is sealed and insulated heat transfer between conditioned and unconditioned parts of the home is further prevented. Ever wonder how much your attic entrance costs you each month in your cooling and heating bills. If you have pull down attic stairs or an attic door these should be sealed in a similar manner.

Reinstall the attic door and install the eyes of the hook and eye lock so they pull down on the attic door. We are going to show you step by step in less than 2 and 1. The latch should lay flush against the frame. Take the attic door off and install a couple of hook and eye locks near the perimeter marking on the plywood side of the attic door.

Gaskets are generally more durable and produce a tighter seal. Most people just add insulation to their attic this will not stop the escaping warm air. Insulate the cover with rigid foam that is glued in place or batt insulation that is mechanically fastened e g with wires and screws. Treat the attic door like a door to the outside.