THE ATTIC HATCH – ARE YOU LOSING HEAT (AND MONEY)?

If your attic hatch isn't sealed, it's an escape hatch for heating, cooling and the hard-earned money spent on higher utility bills to pay for both.
Attic hatches are often under the radar when it comes to eliminating sources of energy loss in your home.  It's not uncommon to find homeowners who have upgraded attic insulation yet neglected this gaping energy hole that allows heat to escape your living spaces in winter and invade in summer. When a typical attic hatch isn't properly sealed, the hatch alone can lose more energy than the entire ceiling. This is also a common area for mould to develop as the moisture from the interior air frosts and condenses around the both the hatch and the housing around the lid.
 
An attic hatch leaks energy in two ways: Direct air leaks around the trim and by conduction through the thin plywood board or drywall material the hatch is made of.
Check your attic hatch for best airtight seal it should have rigid foam insulation layered on the hatch door and weatherstripping around the wood trim lip. Finally, the joint between the trim and the ceiling should be caulked.

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