|
 |
|
Attic stairs with Attic Access Cover
|
|
 |
|
View from inside attic; Attic Access
Cover
covering opening. |
An attic access hatch is a big
hole in the ceiling!
You may have properly insulated
your home's attic floor, but did you think about the attic
access hatch or door? A home's attic hatch is basically a
big hole in the insulation barrier and could potentially cause a
major problem if not properly sealed and left un-insulated.
This big hole could be responsible for heat loss in the winter
and heat gain in the summer which ultimately results in high
utility bills, an uncomfortable home and an unhappy homeowner.
The Attic Access Cover
Our Builder Services division, Environmental Building Solutions
(EBS), completes the weatherization process by sealing the opening to
the attic of each home that is undergoing the
Energy Star
Certification Program. We insulate the attic access
with a specially designed cover called the Attic Access Cover.
The Attic Access Cover is a highly effective insulator installed from inside the
attic and made to drop down and fit tightly over the opening of a
home's attic access.
The tent is made of rigid insulation board, with a high R-value
rating, and is very light-weight and moveable for easy entry
into the attic any time needed. It is a practical and
economical solution to wasted energy creeping through and around
the attic door and stairs and is a requirement to meet Energy
Star standards.
Weatherizing the Attic Hatch
It is also important to make sure the sides of
the attic hatch are properly sealed and insulated.
Adding an insulated cover and
weathering-stripping to an attic hatch will reduce air
infiltration and heat loss by up to 30%.
It's fast and easy, and with the Attic Access
Cover, it
will help create an effective air barrier between the
unconditioned attic and the rest of the house.
Learn More.
** Please note, EBS does not
recommend weather-stripping the drop-down stair panel because it
will eventually warp the door and will cause even more leakage.
We also do not recommend putting insulation between the steps of
the ladder since it decreases the room for your feet and may
cause you to fall.
Resources:
Attic Access Fact
Sheet
Diagram of how to
properly seal around an attic hatch.
