Insulation slows heat. It does not stop air.
This is the key fact. Insulation is a blanket. Air leaks are holes in the blanket. Heat flows right through the holes, blanket or not.
Seal the holes first. Then the blanket works at full strength. Reverse the order and you bury the leaks under new insulation, where they keep leaking.
What gets sealed
The top plates where walls meet the attic. Every wire hole drilled through them. Pipe chases that act like chimneys. The gap around the chimney, sealed fire-safe. Recessed lights, covered or boxed. The attic hatch, weatherstripped and insulated.
The stack effect
Warm air rises and pushes out through attic leaks. Cold air gets sucked in low to replace it. Your furnace heats that new cold air all winter. Sealing the attic floor breaks this cycle. It is the single most effective comfort fix in most homes.
What it costs to skip
We meet homeowners who paid for insulation last year and felt little change. The insulation was fine. The leaks were still open. They paid twice: once for the insulation, once for us to fix it right.
How to tell if you need it
Drafty rooms. Dust near vents. High bills despite decent insulation depth. A blower door test proves it with numbers. Our free inspection spots the visible leaks.
Call (301) 679-9193 for a free attic inspection.