How often would you like the air from the attic to mix with the air in the living area of your home? Unless your attic is properly ventilated and insulated, the answer is probably never, right? Insulating the entire attic can be a time-consuming and costly project. If it is one that is not within your budget this summer, installing an attic tent will help you reduce unwanted air exchanges and energy waste experienced at home without breaking the bank. Once you have chosen the right size attic door insulation cover, it can be installed in a matter of minutes.
Choosing the Right Size
We’re all guilty of purchasing a new outfit only to realize it may be a size too big or too small. That could have been avoided by trying it on first, right? Apply this same concept to choosing your attic tent. Before purchasing one, make sure you know what size you should be looking for. Measure the width, length, and height of the attic door way when folded. The average attic door size would use the AT-2 model, which measures 25″x54″x7″. If the attic ladder side rail is made with a 1×4, a height of 7″ is necessary. If the side rails are made with a 1×5 or 1×6, a height of 13″ is required.
Installation
An attic door insulation cover can be installed over attic stairs, knee wall doors, and over an attic scuttle hole. The installation method depends on which of these applications you will be using the attic insulation for:
A) Attic Stairs
- At the end of the attic stair box, place the attic tent. The zipper heads should be hinged at the end.
- On all four sides, staple the rough frame to the mounting hinge (staple about every 2-3 inches along).
- Use a bead of caulk to seal any air leaks between the rough frame and mounting flange.
B) Knee Wall Door
- The attic tent should be vertically aligned to the back of the door frame. Make sure the zipper end is down.
- To attach to the floor, fold the flange under the zipper side.
- On the attic side, staple around the door frame, and use a bead of caulk for sealing.
C) Attic Scuttle Hole
- Use a piece of 1/2 inch plywood, for example measuring 24″x35″ to be attached along the attic floor joist and the connecting side of the access hole.
- Seal other adjoining areas to allow the tent to have the required mounting surface.
- Placing the zippers close to the access, position the insulation cover over the scuttle hole.
- Staple the flange of the tent around the plywood and access frame.
- As with the other applications, apply a bead of caulk for a tighter seal.
With a little time and the right tools, you can begin to reduce energy loss and protect the home from the harsher temperatures of the attic during extreme weather months. The added insulation provided by an attic tent will not only allow you to gain more control over the temperature indoors, but it will reduce energy bills by up to $170 each year it is left in place.
Do I take the attic tent down in the summer so the heat from the house goes up into the attic or do I keep it
It’s best to keep it installed through summer. The attic tent will basically stop the hot air in the attic from coming into the rest of your home.
When we were adding an attic, I had a nice time reading this useful article on how to reduce energy loss at home.