Honestly, I wish more folks talked about air sealing before insulation or roof upgrades. It’s not flashy, but it made a bigger difference for my energy bills than anything else I tried.
That lines up with what I’ve seen too—air leaks are sneaky. Out of curiosity, did you notice any difference in indoor humidity or comfort after you sealed everything up? I’m debating whether to tackle the attic hatch next or focus on the rim joists in the basement. Both seem like weak spots, but I’m not sure which would have a bigger impact.
You're spot on about those being weak spots. In my experience, sealing the attic hatch can make a surprising difference, especially if you’ve got blown-in insulation up there—it’s often a big source of drafts and heat loss. That said, rim joists in the basement are notorious for letting in cold air during winter. I usually tell folks to start where the biggest air movement is—sometimes you can actually feel the draft with your hand. For me, attic hatch first, then rim joists, but honestly, both are worth tackling when you get a chance. Comfort-wise, folks often mention fewer cold spots and less humidity swing after sealing things up tight.
Attic hatch drafts bring back memories... I once found snow dusting the top of my insulation after a blizzard, just from a gap around the hatch. Ever had storm-driven rain sneak in that way? Curious if anyone’s noticed roof leaks start near their attic access, or if that’s just my luck.
Leaks right by the attic hatch usually point to air leaks more than actual roof failure, at least in my experience. Water tends to follow airflow, especially with wind-driven rain or snow. I’d check if your weatherstripping around the hatch is tight—sometimes even a small gap will pull in moisture during a storm. If you’re seeing water stains right around the access, though, it’s worth poking around above that spot for missing or cracked shingles, or even a loose flashing joint. Not always a roof leak per se, but sometimes both problems show up together after a bad storm.
That’s spot on about the attic hatch—air leaks are sneaky like that. I’ve seen a few cases where folks thought they had a major roof problem, but it turned out to be just a drafty hatch or even insulation pushed aside. Still, if you’re getting water stains right around the access, I’d also double-check the vent boots and any nearby flashing. Sometimes the wind just drives water in at weird angles, especially with those sideways rainstorms. It’s not always easy to tell from inside, either... sometimes you gotta get up there and poke around.
