I’m with you on the recessed lights—those things are sneaky. I thought I’d done a decent job with insulation and air sealing, but the first time I checked with a thermal camera, it was like a light show around every can light and attic hatch. Swapping them out for IC-rated LEDs made a noticeable difference, but honestly, I still get minor ice dams on the west side after a heavy snow and freeze-thaw cycle. Has anyone tried those rigid foam attic hatch covers? I’ve seen mixed reviews and wonder if they’re actually worth the effort, or just another thing to trip over up there...
Has anyone tried those rigid foam attic hatch covers? I’ve seen mixed reviews and wonder if they’re actually worth the effort, or just another thing to trip over up there...
I’ve put in a few of those rigid foam covers for clients, and honestly, they do help—if you install them right. The trick is making sure you get a good seal around the hatch perimeter. If there’s even a small gap, warm air will still sneak through and you’ll end up with the same ice dam issues. I usually add some weatherstripping around the edge, then set the cover on top. It’s not a miracle fix, but it does cut down on heat loss.
One thing to watch for: if your attic is tight on space, those covers can be a pain to maneuver around. I’ve tripped over more than one... but I’d say the trade-off is worth it if you’re still seeing ice dams after upgrading lights and insulation. Just double-check your attic ventilation too—sometimes that’s the missing piece people overlook. If warm air’s got nowhere to go, it’ll keep melting snow no matter how well you seal things up.
Tried those foam covers a couple times—mixed bag, honestly. They do help with drafts if you get them snug, but I’ve seen folks slap them on and still end up with ice dams because the rest of the attic’s leaking heat somewhere else. One job, we found the real culprit was a bathroom fan venting straight into the attic... not the hatch at all. If you’re already crawling around up there, might as well check for other gaps or bad insulation while you’re at it. The covers aren’t magic, but they’re not useless either. Just don’t expect miracles if the rest of the attic’s a mess.
I’ve wondered the same thing about those foam covers—picked one up on sale last winter and it helped a bit, but honestly, I still felt a cold draft near the attic stairs. Ended up finding a gap around an old light fixture up there that was leaking warm air. Anyone else find those little spots make a bigger difference than the hatch itself? I’m always torn between patching what I see and wondering what I’m missing.
Funny, I had the exact same experience last year—spent a weekend fussing with one of those foam covers, thinking it’d solve everything. It helped, but not as much as I hoped. Turns out, the real issue was a couple of tiny gaps around some old wiring up there. I’d never have noticed if I wasn’t crawling around with a flashlight.
Here’s how I tackled it: first, I checked for obvious drafts around the hatch and sealed those up with weatherstripping. Then, I went hunting for less obvious leaks—light fixtures, wiring holes, even some random nail pops that left little gaps. Used a combo of spray foam and caulk depending on the size. Honestly, sealing just those few spots seemed to make more difference than the big foam cover did.
I get what you mean about wondering what you’re missing though. Sometimes I feel like I’m playing whack-a-mole with air leaks... Patch one spot and another pops up somewhere else. But in my case, dealing with the little stuff added up way faster than just focusing on the hatch alone.
