Dave Hoh's Home Comfort & Energy Experts Case Studies: Attic Not Air Sealed in Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Challenge
The worst thing you can do is insulate an attic without air sealing it. We know insulation alone will not stop air leaks and if we bury any air leaks it makes them impossible to seal later. Looking at the exposed fiberglass insulation we can see dirt built up in the fiberglass. As air leaks into the attic through the cracks and holes of the floor, the porous fiberglass insulation filters the dirt while the air you paid for in your conditioned rooms, leaks into the attic. Dirt in the insulation is a sign that the attic is not air sealed and air is circulating through the fiberglass insulation. Finally we can see a large ¼ - ½ inch gap along the sill plate. This is an example of a crack leaking air in and out of the attic.
Solution
We air sealed the attic with our ZypFoam sealant and blew-in our TruSoft cellulose insulation. This homeowner now has a more comfortable and energy efficient home.
