The number one prep step.
Diy seal an attic.
Before you think about heading into your attic to seal air leaks and add insulation here are the things you will need first.
Killing them is both inhumane and will create an unlivable environment due to the smell of a colony of decaying bats.
How to remove bats from attic.
Diy sealing the attic hatch attic hatches are often not air sealed allowing air to transfer between the conditioned space and the attic.
Bats will hibernate in the winter if the temperature stays at around 35 to 40 f.
Gaps in the attic or between the lower floors and the attic will let heated or cooled air escape to the great unconditioned outdoors making any insulation you add essentially useless.
If your hatch rests directly on the moldings add 2 1 2 inch wide stops around the opening.
The stops provide a wider surface for attaching the weatherstrip and a space to mount hook and eye fasteners.
Find a diagram of common air leaks here here s a quick primer on fixing draft prone spots.
You must be highly detailed.
In the past year i ve been on an energy hog hunt in my house and landed on air sealing my attic before adding blown insulation.
I m all about diy when it saves me time or money.
Increasing attic insulation is a fairly complicated diy project 1 3 days or a full weekend but is completely doable if you have the right materials and information.
Finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking weather stripping.
To get them out identify their entry and exit points making sure not to seal them while the bats are inside.
If your hatch rests directly on the moldings like ours did add 2 1 2 in wide stops around the.
Sealing is where most of the work is going to be involved.
My cost was under 150 and it took me less than a day.
I was a bit shocked at the 1 500 2 500 contractor estimates for attic sealing.
These issues results in drafts heat loss in the winter.
In addition they are usually constructed from thin wood or drywall neither of which provides any appreciable resistance to energy loss.
Even if you think you do a good job there can still be issues with bats finding a way around your work.