Attic DIY project advice

[pbratt]

Dear Fellow Mustachians:

Happy 2015 to you all from Dallas Texas. I am enjoying a bit of paternity leave in February and March with my baby mustachia, and that means I will also be able to supervise some home improvement projects. The project that I decided to outsource was the replacement of my 35 year old leaky gutters (on a 57 year old 1,500 sq feet ranch house) and the rotting fascia that was falling off behind it. While I could have done some of the work myself, hanging gutters isn't something that I've done well in the past. I know my limits, and I’m paying to see someone do a better job than I could on a tricky project.

But, I’m still planning on some DIY projects in the attic. The previous owner kindly left me a record of his heating/ac bills from 2007 to 2012, and I have added my own data over the past few years. His annual bills ranged from $1,950 in 2007 to $1,214 by 2012, a drop attributed to installing new energy efficient windows in November 2011. Since we have owned the house, our energy bills have been around $750 per year. The attic currently has a HVAC air handler that leaks and needs to be sealed, an air duct system that apparently has never been cleaned, and insulation at a R-30 level. Since I’ve moved in I made an attic folding door/staircase blanket with an R-10 value.

I’m having my trustworthy HVAC person reseal the air handler and he is also installing a float switch for the system as a peace of mind. Here are my questions:

1)   Should I spend some time sealing air gaps/leaks in the house? When I walk around some of the bedrooms it feels drafty by my recessed lighting. While I installed IC air tight housing units, I’m sure that there are gaps in various places-is it worth it to go around the attic finding the gaps? Some folks have recommended using caulk to seal the gaps, others have recommended using great stuff sealing. Also, should I get these recessed light covers for my 20 recessed lights (http://www.amazon.com/Tenmat-FF130E-Recessed-Light-Cover/forum/Fx3MJFLG787SJO4/-/2/ref=cm_cd_ql_psf_ql_pg2?_encoding=UTF8&asin=B002XVPUAO&cdAnchor=B002XVPUAO&cdSort=best)
2)   Adding more insulation to bring insulation up to R-50. Using the Department of Energy’s data, I would need to get 56 bags-I’d get an even 60-to bring the insulation up to this level at a cost of around $430 from Lowes. Some people have also recommended sealing the tops of the wall framing from the attic to prevent cold/hot air getting in-is that something that can be done easily?
3)   The south side of my house only has three sofit vents all stacked on  one side of the house. Might it be worth it to add three more sofit vents to increase ventilation in the attic? The room below the area where there are no sofit vents gets really hot in the summer
4)   Are there any other attic projects that would be worth doing? My wife wants to get a Nest Thermostat, but I’m a bit skeptical about this paying for itself. It would look nice in the house….

I’m also doing some minor projects (such as repainting the front door and the window shutters, as well as insulating the water pipes in our crawl space), but the big one is for the attic. I appreciate any advice my fellow mustachians can provide!

[Breck]

A fellow Texan here, actually I live in Richardson so not far from you.

I spent about 2 weeks up in my attic this fall doing some similar things. I actually pulled out all the roll in insulation because it was full of rodent crap and thick dust. Not sure if this was the right move, but it made me feel better. I then went through and sealed every gap I could find with Great Stuff. I used maybe 10 bottles of the stuff. Every seam on the top of the wall, every light fixture, every vent opening. Air sealing is the most effective way to improve energy efficiency. Here's a good guide:
http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/guides-and-manuals/gm-attic-air-sealing-guide

While I was up there I added closet lights. Much easier while you're already in the attic. Hate not being able to see in the closet.

As you mentioned the soffits are key. If you're not getting enough air flow there are all kinds of problems that will follow. If you're going to add insulation make sure you install baffles to allow air to get past. Here's what I used:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/ADO-Products-ProVent-14-in-x-4-ft-Attic-Ventilation-System-UPV14480/100533902?N=5yc1vZbmgs

I also added radiant barrier. Not sure if it's going to help much, but I figured I might as well do it now. I just ran it between the top chords of my trusses, stapling it to the chords and leaving about 1" gap to the plywood decking all the way down to just above the baffles.

Finally, I had fiberglass insulation blown in by some cheap contractor I found on craigslist. Looking back, I wish I would have blown it in myself for even cheaper. If you buy 10 bags of Atticat at HD they will loan you the blower for free. The contractor shorted me on coverage. But it's been okay for this winter as thin as it is. You gotta remember that R-value returns roll off pretty quick after R-14. It's the air sealing that's gonna make the noticeable difference in comfort.

You've already got windows covered, so next on the list would be doors. Properly sealing them is a significant difference. Then I would consider outlets/light switches on the exterior wall. They make foam inserts for the cover plates that help seal them much better.

If you've already got a programmable thermostat then I question the added value of a Nest. Unless you have frequent schedule changes, I find the programmable to be simple and effective at minimizing energy use.

We have a striking amount of similarities. I will also be enjoying some paternity leave shortly after you (May). My house is about 1200sqft  and is about 52 years old.

[Greg]

Before you add more insulation, by all means go around in the attic and seal all penetrations; wiring holes, plumbing holes, unused holes in the framing, that's going to help a lot.  The covers you link to will also help if they fit your fixtures.  Adding attic ventilation will help with the heat.  If you don't have eave (soffit) intake vents for the attic, they will help.  If you have only gable end or only ridge vents (exhausts) you can add more as well.

For sealing you can use spray foam or even cheap acrylic caulking.

The biggest gain will come from air sealing and then more insulation.  If you also seal the outlet and switch boxes in the walls (a potential intake leak) it will also help.  Even the foam plate gaskets help a great deal.

[pbratt]

Dear Breck and Greg-thanks both for the great information. Perhaps the best bet is to follow the building science approach to start the project, by just spraying lots of Great Stuff to seal all the penetrations. Currently I have gable end vents on both sides of the house, and I have seven sofit vents on the north side of the house. It is the front south side of the house where there are three on one half and none on the other, and you can feel the house getting baked in the summer months. I'm a bit disappointed that the previous owners (who put on a new roof in 2009) didn't put in ridge vents, as I think that probably would make the attic cooler. Regardless, I think that adding two soffit vents in the front will help the air flow. I do have two fans for the bathrooms currently venting into the attic-is this something I can have vent into an existing sofit or gable vent to remove moisture? Finally, in our master bedroom closet, there is constant mildew on the ceiling. The closet is on an exterior wall and is adjacent to a sofit vent-would adding more insulation help prevent this?

As far as installing baffles, can I use the ones that were linked to simply install into my existing attic soffits?

I ordered foam plate gaskets a month ago and plan on installing these in the project as well.

Finally, I currently have a non-programmable Honeywell Thermostat-so I'd probably benefit somewhat from having a nest.

Thanks both for your assistance!

[MooseOutFront]

Fellow Texan with attic problems here.  I saw a friggin coon in there last week so I really need to get going on a fix.  Also saw carpenter bees flying in and out of the other end not long ago.  These are things that suck about having a 2 story house as there's no easy access to caertain parts of it.

I did get a Nest II for $100 off a guy and love it.  The app on my phone allows me to watch it while on vacation or just at work and get it turned on before we get back even if I let it get to 90 or more while we're gone.  Would recommend.

[FarmerPete]

I do have two fans for the bathrooms currently venting into the attic-is this something I can have vent into an existing sofit or gable vent to remove moisture? Finally, in our master bedroom closet, there is constant mildew on the ceiling. The closet is on an exterior wall and is adjacent to a sofit vent-would adding more insulation help prevent this?

EEK!  Get those exhaust vents going outside ASAP!!!!  If it's not there already, you're going to have a SERIOUS mold problem soon!!!  By any chance, is your master bedroom closet near where one of the exhaust fans are currently venting?

[Breck]

I do have two fans for the bathrooms currently venting into the attic-is this something I can have vent into an existing sofit or gable vent to remove moisture? Finally, in our master bedroom closet, there is constant mildew on the ceiling. The closet is on an exterior wall and is adjacent to a sofit vent-would adding more insulation help prevent this?

EEK!  Get those exhaust vents going outside ASAP!!!!  If it's not there already, you're going to have a SERIOUS mold problem soon!!!  By any chance, is your master bedroom closet near where one of the exhaust fans are currently venting?

I second that, usually you cut a hole in the roof and install a vent. Plenty of DIY guides online.

You might want to consider insulated vent lines when you do this. When you turn the vent on in the summer and blow cool air through the attic outside there is a potential for condensation on the piping.

[pbratt]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I'll certainly start with the smaller parts of the attic project, especially the baffet for the soffits and the bathroom fan vents. Thanks again for the assistance! Peter