Most homeowners think about insulation in terms of what they can see: the material, the thickness, the R-value. What they do not think about is everything happening behind the scenes before a single inch of insulation gets added. In older homes especially, the attic tells a story that is worth hearing before any work begins.
We recently walked through a 1910-built home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. What we found is a good reminder of why attic air sealing matters just as much as the insulation itself.
See It for Yourself
We walked through this attic on video so you can see exactly what we are talking about. Watch the full walkthrough here.
The Attic Is Full of Hidden Problems
The attic in this Grand Rapids home was, as we put it, essentially like Swiss cheese. Air was finding its way out through multiple points, and none of it was doing the home any favors. Here is a breakdown of what we found and why each issue matters.
The Bath Fan Hose Was Not Terminated
One of the first things we spotted was a bath fan hose that was not connected to anything. It was simply blowing hot, moist air directly into the attic space.
This is a more serious problem than it sounds. Hot, moist air venting into an attic causes snow melt on the roof during winter, which leads to ice dams. It also puts a significant amount of moisture onto the wood components in the attic and onto the nails in the roof structure over time. The fix is a flexible insulated hose terminated to the exterior of the home. That way the air goes outside where it belongs, not into the attic.
The Masonry Chimney Had a Large Gap Around It
The masonry chimney in this home, which carries exhaust from the furnace and water heater, had a large gap running all the way around it. That gap acts as a direct channel for conditioned air to travel up through the house and out into the attic.
Think of it as a wide open path from your living space straight to the outside. Any heat your furnace produces has an easy exit before it ever has a chance to warm your home. Sealing that gap is a critical part of any thorough attic air sealing project.
Can Lights Were Acting Like Chimneys
Can lights are one of the most common and least obvious sources of heat loss in an older home. Each one functions like a small chimney, allowing warm air to rise up and out of the living space and into the attic.
The solution is to build a box over the top of each can light. That box makes the fixture part of the conditioned space of the house rather than leaving it open to the attic. Without that step, every can light in the home is actively working against your heating and cooling system year round.
The Insulation Level Was Too Low
The insulation in this attic measured about 9 inches. We like to see 18 inches. At 9 inches, there is simply not enough material to do the job the homeowner is counting on it to do.
But here is the thing: adding more insulation on top of existing air leaks does not solve the underlying problem. If conditioned air is still escaping through gaps around the chimney, through unterminated bath fan hoses, and through can lights, more insulation only addresses part of the issue. The air leaks have to be dealt with first.
Why Attic Air Sealing Comes Before Insulation
This is the point most homeowners miss when they start getting estimates for an insulation project. Insulation and attic air sealing are not the same thing, and one without the other leaves real performance on the table.
When you get an estimate for an insulation project, make sure the contractor is accounting for all of the air leaks as well. Adding insulation without addressing air sealing leaves the underlying problem in place, and the insulation alone cannot make up for air that is still actively escaping through gaps in the attic.
Ready to Find Out What’s Going On in Your Attic?
At WMGB Home Improvement, we start with a comprehensive Energy Assesment to identify where air is leaking before we ever recommend an insulation solution. From there, we can determine whether blown in insulation, like cellulose or fiberglass, or spray foam insulation is the right fit for your attic. We will make sure the insulation level actually does what it is supposed to do for your home’s comfort and energy costs.
If you are thinking about an insulation project and want to know what is really going on in your attic first, we are happy to take a look. Contact us online or call 616-867-0680 to get a free quote and start the conversation.
