The way to Fix Chimney Draft in the Attic

The way to Fix Chimney Draft in the Attic

If you have chimney draft at the loft, that doesn’t indicate that your chimney is creating a draft there; in case it did, then you would have a real problem whenever you wished to start a fire in the fireplace. Chimney draft means an updraft of air through your attic similar to the updraft at a chimney. An updraft is a great thing in the chimney, but it consumes energy in your attic and requires fixing.

The Chimney Effect

An updraft of air exists in every house; it’s the natural result of the fact that warm air rises. As a result of this updraft, the air pressure in lower regions of the house is lower compared to higher parts. If the warmer air can not recirculate down, cold air rushes in from outside to equalize the stress. The net result is a current of air that cools down the house and expels warmer air through any opening that happens to exist in the ceiling, attic or roof. This updraft will definitely make the house more comfortable in the summertime, but in the winter it consumes energy.

Attic Drafts Vs. Attic Ventilation

Air circulation in the attic is not always a bad thing. If the loft is properly vented, a continual circulation of air should flow in the soffit vents to the roof or gable vents. This circulation prevents moisture from condensing on the framing and attic insulation. The air that vents the loft should come just in the soffit vents, nevertheless. If it comes from in the house, it can really defeat the purpose of venting. Warm air in the house increases the air pressure in the attic, reducing the draft through the soffits. Your heating El Paso repair specialists bill also goes up since the furnace works harder to keep the house warm.

Finding of Air Gaps

Even correctly insulated attics usually have gaps, and they are not always in areas you expect them to be. The holes across any Plumbing El Paso repair specialists or Sacramento AC repair specialists pipes that move into the loft are usually bigger than the pipes, and there are often gaps at the eaves, where the roof meets the soffits. Recessed lighting canisters permit air to pass through them unless they are factory-sealed — as well as those that are usually have gaps across them. The corners of wall plates are also air passages; air enters through unsealed door and window casings to locate its way through gaps in these corners.

Sealing the Attic

Expanding polyurethane foam efficiently seals gaps around pipes and at the corners of wall plates. Foam is not a universal fix-all, though, and gaps that are difficult to reach or at regions where foam would be unsightly may be better filled with caulk. Metal pipes that get hot, like heat or stove pipes, require metal flashing. Gaps around recessed lights can be particularly tough to handle. The best strategy is to replace all of your canisters using insulation-contact or IC canisters and lay insulation straight over them. Before doing this, caulk the gap about each one. Don’t forget to seal other ceiling electrical fixtures along with also the loft access door itself. With the living space effectively sealed from the loft, the chimney updraft impact is mitigated.