Why You Need an Attic Tent
Most homes in this area that have an attic have an access point tucked away in the ceiling, with a pull-down staircase. By adding a simple cover, you can isolate the air that is in your home from the draft you’re most likely getting from the attic access and instantly increase the effectiveness of your HVAC system. The cover that is installed can be unzipped and pushed aside when you need to get into the attic.
Poor Insulation Leads to Reduced HVAC Efficiency—and Higher Energy Bills
Installing an attic access cover, also known as an attic tent, helps your cooling and heating system run more efficiently—and in turn saves you money—because the attic tent is designed to insulate the attic access point. Without insulation, this access point lets conditioned air inside your home escape and allows unconditioned air to get inside your living space. In summer, it lets warm air in, and in winter, it lets warm air out. Even if you’ve made sure the rest of your attic has good insulation, if this access point isn’t insulated, it can undo all that effort.
This means your air conditioner and heater have to work harder to maintain the right temperature inside your home. And the harder your HVAC system has to work, the more likely it is to suffer wear-and-tear damage that may require repairs or replacement parts.
HVAC efficiency is hugely important, especially in a climate like North Texas, where summers mean extremely high temperatures and winters can get frosty. If your furnace and central AC aren’t running efficiently, your utility bills are likely much higher than they should be.
By installing an attic insulation cover, you add insulation that:
- Protects your home
- Improves your HVAC efficiency
- Prevents energy loss and waste
- Reduces your utility bills, saving you money
- And still lets you easily access the attic
The Benefits of Installing an Attic Access Cover
Adding an attic tent gives you a number of benefits, including some things you might not expect!
- Protect against moisture and all the problems that come with it.
- Help repel pests by covering gaps and cracks where they could enter your home.
- Cover cracks and gaps that let drafts in.
- Improve the energy efficiency of your furnace and central air conditioner and extend its lifespan.
- Make your home more comfortable and pleasant, in all seasons and all weather.
You can also save money on utility bills in two ways:
- Increasing the efficiency of your HVAC system
- Often the thermostat is located under the pull-down attic staircase, and the draft from the opening can cause the thermostat to cycle unnecessarily.
Better yet, there are no downsides to installing an attic access cover. They will pay for themselves very quickly, thanks to energy savings and lower utility bills for as long as you own your home.
How to Install and Use an Attic Tent
There are two main types of attic insulation covers:
- Tented covers
- Zippered insulation blankets
Both of these are covers that fit over your attic access point, turning your attic hatch cover into an insulated door. Once installed, you can still remove the trap door and open your attic stairs as normal, then move or unzip the insulated stair cover to access your attic spaces.
Tented attic insulation covers are made from flexible insulation fabric in a tent shape that fits over your attic access point. You can install a tented attic insulation cover quickly and easily just by opening up the “tent” and placing it over the access point. It’s heavy enough that it won’t move on its own but light enough to move easily when you need to. When you want to get into your attic, just move the cover out of the way!
This type of attic stair cover is easy to install, but because it isn’t fixed in place, it doesn’t provide a good seal. This means it doesn’t have the same level of protection that fixed-in-place attic covers provide.
Zippered insulation blankets are also made of flexible insulated fabric, but instead of a tented attic door cover, this kind is more like a blanket with a zipper in the middle. A zippered attic cover is stapled to your attic access point and then sealed around all edges, so it’s firmly fixed in place. When you want to access your attic, you just remove the door cover and unzip the zipper.
This kind of attic tent is a little more complicated to install, but it provides a much better seal because the blanket is stapled and sealed to your attic access point. This means there are no gaps or cracks that can let air escape or let drafts through. Since it’s sealed, it provides better attic stairway insulation, temperature control, and energy savings.
The main downside of this attic stair cover is that if the zipper breaks, the entire cover may need to be replaced. Choosing a good-quality model with strong seams and a robust zipper is best to ensure that it will last a long time.
Additional options include upgrades such as covers that are fire-rated, made from fireproof materials and materials that reflect radiant heat. These upgrades improve the safety of the cover and make it more effective at insulating and preventing energy loss.
Need to Install an Attic Access Cover?
Installing an attic tent can save energy and save money. For the cover to work as intended, it’s important that it be installed correctly. If not properly installed and well-sealed, it won’t insulate as well as it should. Therefore, it’s generally a good idea to consider professional installation for your attic access cover. It’s especially important if you want to install a fireproof attic access cover. These often have a more complex installation process, so it’s good to get professional help with this option.
If you’re in North Texas, give CW Service Pros a call. We’re happy to lend our skills so you receive a professional, long-lasting installation. When your attic insulation cover is installed correctly, you’ll notice the difference right away: a more comfortable home and lower energy bills.
Call CW Service Pros today, and let’s get started!