Energy-Saver Attics

Attic Access

• An attic access may not be properly sealed, allowing air to leak through. Failure to seal your attic access is like heating another room of the house, in terms of energy cost. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a ¼-inch gap around the attic access leaks as much air as supplied by the average bedroom heating duct. Add at least 3 to 4 inches of weather stripping around attic hatches and scuttle holes, and add rigid insulation to the attic side of the hatch. Seal the frame of pull-down stairs with caulk or expansive foam, and add weather stripping to the space between the stairs and the frame.

Leaks

• Over time, homes can develop leaks as their building materials shrink and swell. Common locations include around ducts and recessed lighting, at the edges of ceilings in the upper floor and around ventilation fans and stacks. While an overly sealed home can cause ventilation problems, older houses are almost impossible to seal completely. Close up draft sources using weather stripping, caulk or spray foam. If you're worried about sealing your attic leaks too thoroughly, have a professional check oxygen levels and air leakage in the home, using a manometer or blower.

Insulation

• Warm air rises, and in homes with poorly insulated attics, it enters the attic space and passes into the outside. In the winter, this could significantly increase your heating costs. The EPA recommends insulating homes in warm climates to ratings of between R30 and R60. In cold parts of the United States, such as the northern Midwest, attic insulation must have a rating of at least R49. That's at least 15½ inches of fiberglass batt insulation, or about 10 inches of rigid foam. If the insulation in your attic is level with or below the floor joists, adding more can help you reduce your energy use.

Ducts

• Heating and cooling ducts in forced-air systems can also cause significant heat loss, especially in attic spaces. If your ducts run through the attic, wrap them in insulation to reduce heat transmission between the two spaces. You'll use less energy and spend less money if the air in your ducts reaches the room at about the same temperature it was when it left the furnace or the air conditioner.