My gas bill dropped $45 after I sealed the attic hatch

Last winter I was paying like $180 a month for heating in my old house in Cleveland. I figured it was just old windows and bad insulation. Then my buddy who does HVAC came over and pointed at the pull-down attic stairs in my hallway. He said that little door is basically a giant hole in your ceiling. I bought a foam attic stair cover from Home Depot for about $35. Took me 20 minutes to install. That next month my bill went down to $135 and stayed there all season. I couldn't believe such a small thing made that big of a difference. Has anyone else noticed a big drop from sealing up little leaks like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

lucasking5h agoRising Star

Maybe you just got lucky with a mild month. Weather changes a lot from one month to the next so that $45 drop could be more about temperature than your hatch cover. I've seen people spend a hundred bucks on attic stairs stuff and still have high bills because their windows or walls are the real problem. Plus those foam covers can trap moisture against the hatch and cause mold issues later. A $45 savings one time doesn't mean it works for everyone, especially if your house is older and has drafts everywhere else.

the_blair3h ago

The air sealing matters more than the insulation on attic hatches though.