Attic Air Sealing & Insulation in Hutchinson, KS

Attic air sealing and insulation is the first upgrade we recommend in most Hutchinson homes. In summer the attic gets far hotter than the outdoors, and thin insulation lets that heat into the rooms below. Gaps around light fixtures, plumbing stacks, chimneys, the hatch and the tops of interior walls let hot attic air in during summer and let warm house air escape in winter.

Seal, then insulate

We seal those gaps first with foam and caulk, weatherstrip and insulate the hatch or attic stairs, and install baffles at the eaves. Then we blow in cellulose or fiberglass to depth.

How much

ENERGY STAR suggests R-60 for an uninsulated attic in Zone 4A, or R-49 added to an attic with 3 to 4 inches already. Blown fiberglass runs about R-2.2 to R-2.9 per inch and cellulose R-3.1 to R-3.8 (HomeGuide), so that is well over a foot.

Ducts in the attic

Some homes run ducts through the attic. Sealing duct joints, and burying ducts in insulation where possible, cuts summer losses. Where ducts and equipment fill the attic, foam under the roof deck is an option.

What we check first

Roof leaks, stains, mold, rodent activity, old wiring and vermiculite. Some need attention before insulation goes in.

Older houses

Hutchinson's older frame houses and bungalows often have small attics with a few inches of old loose fill. Sealing and topping up those attics is usually affordable and makes an obvious difference.

Comparing quotes

Ask each insulation company for separate lines for air sealing and for insulation, with the material, depth and target R-value. A single number for the whole job makes it hard to know what you are getting.

Bath fans

Bath fans that vent into the attic dump moist air where it can frost on the roof deck in winter. We check them and can route the duct outdoors as part of the job.