Attic air sealing in Yakima WA - fewer drafts and an attic ready for insulation
Drafty rooms, a hot upstairs or dust drifting from the ceiling? We close the gaps into your attic so the air you pay for stays downstairs.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- Replies within 1 business day.
What does attic air sealing do for a drafty Yakima house?
Attic air sealing in Yakima closes the gaps, cracks and holes between your rooms and the attic, around light fixtures, wiring, pipes and flues, so the warm or cool air you pay for stays in the house instead of leaking up and out.
Most people call because one bedroom is always cold, the upstairs runs hot all summer or the power bill keeps climbing with nothing else changing. What moves the price and the schedule is how many gaps there are, how easy the attic is to move around in, and whether anything has to be fixed before we seal. I'll explain what I find in your attic and put it in writing on the estimate, so you know your own number before any work starts.
How can you tell your attic is leaking air?
Rooms that never feel even
One bedroom stays cold while the next one is fine, or the upstairs never matches the thermostat. That's often house air slipping up into the attic through gaps in the ceiling, and the longer it goes on, the harder your furnace and air conditioner have to work.
A power bill that keeps climbing
Heating and cooling bills creep up even though you haven't changed how you live. Air leaking into the attic is a common reason, and every month it runs, you're paying to heat or cool air that ends up outside.
Dust in rooms below
A gray ring of dust around a ceiling light or vent, or dust that comes back fast in upstairs rooms, can mean air is moving between the attic and the room. Left alone, it keeps pulling attic dirt into the house.
Ice along the roof edge
Ridges of ice at the eaves usually mean warm air from the house is reaching the roof and melting snow that refreezes at the edge. Water can back up under the shingles, so waiting can turn a draft into a roof and ceiling repair.
How we handle attic air sealing
I start by looking at what's already up there, because sealing under soaked insulation or a layer full of droppings just locks the problem in. Then our crew seals around the recessed lights, pipes, wires, flues and the hatch where room air slips into the attic, using caulk or foam on narrow gaps and rigid blocking sealed in place over the bigger openings. If you have gas or oil appliances, we talk with you about having them tested before and after, and the question about that further down explains why.
Sealing usually leads straight into insulation, since the crew is already set up in your attic. For most houses I'd rather top up what's there with retrofit insulation once the gaps are closed, because it costs less and does the job well over a sealed ceiling. When ductwork runs through the attic, spray foam insulation earns its higher price, because it seals and insulates in the same layer.
Sealing under insulation that's in good shape
If the insulation up there is dry and clean, we move it aside, seal the gaps underneath and put it back. This suits houses that were insulated well but still feel drafty.
Sealing as step one of new insulation
When the attic is thin on insulation, we seal first and add insulation after in the same project. This suits most older houses, because you only have the crew in your attic once.
Cleanup first, then sealing
Wet, moldy or droppings-filled insulation comes out before anything gets sealed. This suits attics where the old material is the real problem, not just the gaps.
Foam where ducts run overhead
Where ductwork sits in the attic, foam can seal and insulate around it in one layer. It costs more, so it suits houses where the ducts or a tight space make loose fill a poor fit.
Get a free estimate for sealing your attic
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set up a visit. I come out, look at the attic and write up a free estimate, with no pressure and no obligation.
- Based in
- Yakima, WA 98901
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM–9 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–9 PM
What happens after you call about attic air sealing?
Here's how an attic sealing job runs from your first call to the final walk-through, and who you'll be dealing with at each step.
Call or send the form
You reach us at (509) 517-6081 or through the form, and we set a time for me to come out. Tell us then if you rent the place or need a weekend visit, since we work Saturdays and Sundays too.
I inspect the attic myself
I go up into the attic, look at the crawl space or walls if they matter, and show you what I find. The estimate lays out what has to be fixed first, where we'll seal and what it costs, so the price isn't a surprise later.
Our crew preps and seals
The crew handles the prep and sealing first and any insulation after, and I'm on site checking the work as it goes. If something turns up once we're in there, I stop and talk it through with you before the plan changes.
We walk the finished attic
Before we leave, I go over the finished work with you and point out where we sealed. That's the time to ask anything, while the crew is still there.
Why Yakima homeowners call C&D Yakima Insulation Solutions to seal their attics
The owner looks at every attic
I come out myself to see each job and write the estimate, and I'm back on site checking the work while the crew installs. You're dealing with the person who answers for the job from the first visit to the last.
Framing carpenter first, insulating since 2017
I framed houses for years before I started this business in 2017, so I know where the gaps hide around ceiling framing and behind drywall. That's where a lot of the air gets into an attic, and it's where we spend our time.
Licensed and insured in Washington
Washington requires construction contractors to register with the state, and we're licensed and insured. If something goes wrong on a job, that's what protects you and your house.
We say when it's not ready
If the attic has wet insulation, old wiring or a roof leak that has to be fixed first, I tell you plainly instead of sealing over it. Money spent on sealing only pays off once the house underneath is sound.
Finding every gap before anything covers it is what makes this job work, so call (509) 517-6081 or use our contact page to set up a visit.
Attic air sealing, old wiring and permits in Yakima
Before we start an attic sealing job in Yakima, we find out whether it needs a permit instead of assuming it doesn't. General permit questions go to the City of Yakima Codes office at (509) 575-6126, and the city sends electrical permits to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, which matters when old knob and tube wiring in the attic has to be dealt with before we seal. If your job needs a permit, we take care of the application with the city or county office that covers your address, and if we're not sure yet, we tell you up front and find out.
Electrical and asbestos work each carry their own licensing in Washington, so old wiring or vermiculite, the light, gray, pea-size flakes that can contain asbestos, has to be handled by someone licensed for it. If you think you have vermiculite, leave it alone until an approved lab tests it, and the local health department can tell you which labs are approved. We check for both on older attics across Yakima and on jobs in Selah and Union Gap before anyone seals anything.
Questions about attic air sealing in Yakima
How do I know if my attic is leaking air into my house?
Attic leaks usually sit at the same few spots: the attic hatch, recessed lights, holes cut for wiring and pipes, kneewalls and the chases, the hollow boxes built around ducts. A blower door test measures how tight the whole house is, and the Building America checklist calls for one before work starts, so it's fair to ask whether a quote includes one. When I come out, I check those spots and show you what I find.
How much does attic air sealing cost in Yakima?
Professional attic air-leak sealing usually runs about $250 to $750 per job across the US, which is a national figure and not our price. Complex work, testing, insulation and restoration can add a good deal on top, so when you compare quotes, ask which of those each one includes. Your own number comes from the estimate after I've seen the attic.
What needs to be fixed before sealing an attic?
Wet insulation, moldy or rotted framing, vents blowing damp air into the attic and knob and tube wiring should all be fixed first, and ENERGY STAR recommends a professional handle them. Sealing over any of those traps the problem, so they come before we start and they shape the timing and total cost on your estimate.
Should I seal my attic before adding insulation?
Yes, seal first. The EPA recommends finishing attic air sealing before insulating, because fiberglass and loose fill slow heat but don't stop air moving through them. If you're planning to add insulation, the sealing is step one of the same project.
Is attic air sealing safe if I have a gas furnace or water heater?
It can be, as long as the appliances get checked, because sealing can sometimes make gas or oil appliances that vent naturally push combustion gases back into the house. ENERGY STAR suggests having a Home Performance Contractor test those appliances before and after sealing, and I'll talk that through with you at the estimate.
How long does attic air sealing take?
The schedule turns less on the sealing itself than on what has to happen before it, like replacing wet insulation or getting old wiring dealt with. Once that's done, our crew seals first and adds any insulation after, and I'll lay out the order on your estimate so you know what to plan around.
Insulation work that often follows attic sealing
Retrofit insulation
When an older house already has some insulation, retrofit work adds to it without tearing everything out, which is the usual next step after sealing.
Spray foam insulation
Spray foam fits attics with ducts, kneewalls and rooms over the garage, where one layer has to stop air and hold heat at the same time.
Cities we serve around Yakima
C&D Yakima Insulation Solutions is based in Yakima, Washington, and seals attics across the city and the cities around it. The 8 cities below each have their own page, including Terrace Heights and Ellensburg. If your city isn't listed, call and ask.
Have your attic gaps found and sealed
Call (509) 517-6081 or send the form with a note on which rooms feel drafty and any gas or oil appliances you have, so I know where to look first.