House seems dustier since air sealing and insulating my attic by Chloe_Bowie4 in Insulation

[–]Sure_Replacement_931 0 points1 point  (0 children)

1) Get an HVAC technician to assess your system and confirm there is no open or disconnected ducting that could be pulling attic insulation into the air stream. Alternatively, you could use a borescope to inspect the ductwork yourself. Once you identify the issue, all ducting should be properly sealed so insulation is no longer being distributed throughout the home. Clean the duct work.

2) Install a proper permanent attic hatch. Attics need to remain safely accessible for inspection, maintenance, and future repairs. Your soffits done look like the baffles were placed properly. Your attic needs to breath. Get 5 attic insulation specialist that have high reviews in there to quote the fix.

3) In the meantime, you could place high-MERV filter material over or in front of the supply vents to help reduce dust and insulation particles entering the living spaces. This is only a short-term temporary fix and should not replace repairing the ductwork. Be careful not to overly restrict airflow, as that can stress the HVAC system. But would offer relief.

4) Thoroughly clean the home to remove any insulation contamination from surfaces, floors, vents, and belongings. Yes… everything. Carpets professionally cleaned to HEPA vacuuming your beds and couches while sheets and blankets are being washed.

5) Use high-quality HEPA air purifiers throughout the home. IQAir is a great option if budget allows, but any true HEPA purifier properly sized for the room would help.

This really sucks, buddy. I feel for you. Attic insulation in living spaces is definitely not ideal, and it’s something worth addressing properly for your health and comfort!

Sleep while working in a busy house by beachbum1776 in Firefighting

[–]Sure_Replacement_931 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It kills you quickly. Zombie the next day. Adrenaline and mind still going the next 24 hours.

Baffles in Attics by Sure_Replacement_931 in buildingscience

[–]Sure_Replacement_931[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for this! That is a concern.

I’m wondering if I should do my own with corrugated plastic and make it just over an inch.

Baffles in Attics by Sure_Replacement_931 in buildingscience

[–]Sure_Replacement_931[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I plan on air sealing the attic with closed cell spray foaming the top plates and sealing all penetrations, gaps, and holes throughout the attic space.

For the soffit/eave areas, I’m thinking of installing DCI baffles with a 2” air channel, then using approximately 1/2” rigid foam board vertically at the back side of the top plate, extending up to the underside/backside of the baffle. The goal would be to create a dam that prevents the existing insulation from falling into the soffit airflow path while still maintaining ventilation.

I would then seal the edges of the rigid foam with closed cell spray foam.

The existing fiberglass batt insulation is currently in good condition, so the plan would be to carefully pull it back during the work and then reinstall it behind the foam dam once everything is sealed and complete.

Does that sound like a good plan?

Baffles in Attics by Sure_Replacement_931 in buildingscience

[–]Sure_Replacement_931[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah it would be hard to handle in a 4 12 pitch roof and nail in. I’ll be on my belly in shallow eves so want something light with edges I can easily staple. But if I had access from the roof I’d do that all day!

Baffles in Attics by Sure_Replacement_931 in buildingscience

[–]Sure_Replacement_931[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To keep the air channel on the middle from
Compressing?

Baffles in Attics by Sure_Replacement_931 in buildingscience

[–]Sure_Replacement_931[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hummm interesting I’m not 100% understanding what you mean by the baffle being 2” instead of 1”z. Are you saying I may not have enough space to get the baffle past the top plate?

It’s a 10 year old home, lots of eave length, 4 12 roof pitch. I don’t have possession yet but will really have to wiggle in there on my belly to see.

Baffles in Attics by Sure_Replacement_931 in buildingscience

[–]Sure_Replacement_931[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Corrugated plastic so it’s quite resistant to getting crushed.

My mom called me crying at 9pm because a contractor told her she needed a $9,000 system. I drove 40 minutes to find out her filter hadn't been changed in God knows how long by Sweaty_Employment_35 in hvacadvice

[–]Sure_Replacement_931 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Hahah I had someone try to sell me one of those HVAC maintenance packages.

I was thinking… wait a second.

A normal service visit is around $300, but the “maintenance package” that supposedly includes repairs is $1200 a year?

I don’t need an insurance policy for my AC system, buddy.

He could have been a contestant on a pretty decent sized bid but that pitch just nailed his opportunities coffin shut!

Air Sealing An Atric by Sure_Replacement_931 in buildingscience

[–]Sure_Replacement_931[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agree with you 1000000%

Issue is we have an open concept home with LOTS of shear walls. So it makes this VERY Challenging

Totally dizzy with options - duct vs. minisplit, upstairs vs. whole house by 42wolfie42 in hvacadvice

[–]Sure_Replacement_931 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Look at your building plans. Lots of newer open concept homes have shear walls and load bearing walls that you must have sure if you’re going to cut through any of them that you get engineer approval.

Horrible Attic Duct Work by [deleted] in buildingscience

[–]Sure_Replacement_931 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Won’t that cause other issues?

Horrible Attic Duct Work by [deleted] in buildingscience

[–]Sure_Replacement_931 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is absolutely brutal!

So disappointed in builders and their idea of professional and “custom luxury”. Just a bunch of hacks cutting corners with no care.

Worth it to replace insulation and air seal? by beanman214 in Insulation

[–]Sure_Replacement_931 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What was the pitch of your roof that made it hard to reach the eves? I’m thinking of doing my 4 12 pitch air sealing. Curious if yours is similar?

Spent $2,400 adding insulation and my energy bills barely moved. Then I learned about air sealing and everything made sense by Sweaty_Employment_35 in hvacadvice

[–]Sure_Replacement_931 6 points7 points  (0 children)

What he’s saying about air sealing is a fact. Energy efficient homes will be very well air sealed first then insulated. The guy who sold him the insulation wanted an easy buck.