My hvac contractor installed with our blessings a system whereby the fresh air return entails about three to four feet of duct and then is open into the attic.
How to seal off opening into attic above air unit.
Finished rooms built into attics often have open cavities in the floor framing under the sidewalls or kneewalls.
In essence the attic is part of the home s conditioned air space.
If you are creative you can also use spray foam to glue your boxes together.
The right attic access cover can also seal and insulate attic pull down stairs helping deliver comfort and savings for homeowners.
If your hatch rests directly on the moldings like ours did add 2 1 2 in wide stops around the opening.
Keep rodents out by putting a metal collar around the hole filling the gap with steel wool or fitting wire screen to the opening.
How to seal attic pull down stairs recommended solution.
Apply a bead of caulk or adhesive around the opening.
When you have four pieces cut glue them together with a construction adhesive designed to work with foam and then glue that entire foam block to the backside of hatch panel centred as it is here.
How to open up access into your attic space for inspection and or insulation.
These pests chew through caulk and foam.
As part of the construction we have encapsulated the attic with open cell spray foam.
In general you will have a higher chance of creating a truly well insulated and sealed attic environment through an attic access cover.
This foam should be cut to the outside dimension of your attic access hatch box that you have pre assembled.
Frame the attic opening with playwood to a height above the attic insulation and drywalling the ceiling to the edge of the plywood opening as usual.
Cut a peice of 3 4 good 1 side plywood 2 larger than the opening each way and paint the color of the ceiling.
Then finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking foam weatherstrip photos 10 and 11.
If you have a finished attic seal behind the kneewalls.
Off the shelf products are available but would have cost me more however it would have significantly reduced my time in the attic.
Block both insects and rodents with a combination seal.
Install the fiberglass insulation as thick as practical or as space will allow.
These methods deter rodents but may not completely block cold air or insect pests.
Covers how to select a location find studs measure and cut a hole install tr.
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.
Intake vents located at the lowest part of the roof under the eaves allow cool.
Notch a hole for your wire and spray foam around the bottom and any gaps in the box.
