Caulking and weatherstripping are two simple and effective air sealing techniques that offer quick returns on investment often one year or less.
Air seal attic door.
Gaskets are generally more durable and produce a tighter seal.
Insulate the attic side of the door by gluing rigid foam to it or attaching batt insulation with screws and wire.
Air seal the hatch perimeter the plywood hatch rests on a small wood strip lip.
From inside the attic check for any openings holes or fenestrations into the knee wall surrounding area.
Install a latch that will pull the door tight to the frame and the weather stripping.
Then finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking foam weatherstrip photos 10 and 11.
Pull back existing insulation seal with caulk or expanding foam and return insulation.
Caulk is generally used for cracks and openings between stationary house components such as around door and window frames and weatherstripping is used to seal components that move such as doors and operable windows.
Use spray foam to air seal these openings if they exist.
There may be many reasons that this isn t a job you want to take on by yourself.
Better yet there are high quality products such as the attic gator designed to both seal and insulate attic access doors and scuttle holes.
The latch should lay flush against the frame.
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.
When you insulate and seal the attic access you help prevent heat transfer between the attic and the conditioned home improving energy efficiency which is reflected in lower heating and cooling costs for homeowners.
The standard air sealing recommendation is to install a compression bulb weatherstrip.
Sealing the attic hatch or door finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking weather stripping.
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Attach the rigid foam insulation to the attic side of the door.
The stops provide a wider surface for attaching the weatherstrip and a space to mount hook and eye fasteners.
This can also be beefed up to a sealing gasket like the one on your refrigerator door.
If your hatch rests directly on the moldings add 2 1 2 inch wide stops around the opening.
Apply weather stripping to the door to create a seal.
How to air seal an attic door.
If your hatch rests directly on the moldings like ours did add 2 1 2 in wide stops around the opening.
Attach fiberglass to the back of the attic hatch door and line the stops with weather stripping on your way down.
