Stop Letting Your Attic Hatchway Leak Heat

Stop Letting Your Attic Hatchway Leak Heat

If you’re like most homeowners, the attic isn’t exactly a hot hangout spot. It’s storage territory for holiday decorations, travel luggage, and memory-adorned momentos that you can’t bring yourself to part with. Because we don’t venture up there much, we tend to forget the attic is one of the most extreme environments in the home. It bakes in the summer, freezes in the winter, and if the attic hatchway isn’t properly sealed, it can leak energy and money every single day of the year.

Here’s a scene I’ve encountered more times than I can count: I climb into an attic in the middle of winter and notice tiny icicles forming on the ends of roofing nails. Those nails extend through the roof deck, and when warm indoor air rises into a cold attic, the moisture in that air condenses and freezes on the coldest surfaces. It may look like a winter wonderland up there, but trust me, it’s not festive. That condensation can melt and refreeze, and over time it leads to mold, wood rot, and structural problems that are much more expensive than a simple insulation fix.

So why is your attic turning into a climate disaster zone? Many homes in Connecticut, especially older ones, lack proper insulation and ventilation. Decades ago, builders didn’t give much thought to energy efficiency. They assumed heat was cheap and drafty houses were just the way things were. Today, we know better. Adequate insulation keeps conditioned air inside your living spaces where it belongs, while ventilation helps regulate the attic temperature and remove moisture. When those two systems are lacking, your attic becomes the gateway for your heating and cooling to escape straight outside.

And the biggest culprit? The attic entryway.

Homeowners are great at sealing windows, adding storm doors, and plugging up drafty gaps around the house. But the attic hatch? That one gets ignored despite being one of the thinnest and least insulated surfaces in the entire house. A piece of plywood sitting on top of drywall can’t compete with a properly insulated ceiling. Even with weatherstripping around the edges, heat will pass right through it like a kid through a cookie jar.

Whole-house fans share the same issue. They’re terrific for ventilation in the warmer months, but when winter rolls around, that giant fan opening is basically a hole in your ceiling unless it’s insulated properly.

This is why we so often recommend adding an insulated attic cover or box. Think of it like a puffy winter jacket for that vulnerable hatchway. The covers we install are made from thick, durable insulation that’s designed specifically to withstand those attic temperatures. Once in place, the cover creates a sealed barrier that stops heat from sneaking past the stair frame. When you pull the stairs down, you simply lift the cover out of the way. No wrestling, no complications, and no impact on attic access.

Beyond comfort, let’s talk numbers. Heating and cooling account for the majority of a home’s energy bill. If warm air is drifting away through the attic hatch, your system has to work harder and run longer to keep the house comfortable. Adding an insulated cover is a small, affordable improvement that pays for itself in energy savings and protects your home from expensive moisture damage.

It also makes a difference you can feel. Homeowners often tell us rooms near the attic, especially upstairs bedrooms, stay more comfortable and consistent in temperature after the upgrade. No more drafty hallways. No more cold spots near the attic stairs. Just a home that performs the way it should.

If you’re planning improvements this season or simply want to make your home more energy-smart, have a professional check your insulation and ventilation. Boosting insulation levels and sealing the attic access is a one-two punch that delivers major results. Your HVAC system will thank you, and so will your wallet.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Why Fall Might Just Be Your Garden’s Secret Weapon

Most people think of fall as the time to put the garden to bed - pull the weeds, store the tools, and dream about next spring. But seasoned gardeners know better: late summer and early fall can be the start of a whole new harvest season. With the right timing and a few simple steps, you can enjoy crisp, homegrown vegetables well into the cooler months - even past the first frost.

If your garden’s been looking a little neglected, this is your second chance to make it thrive. Here’s how to get started:

1. Know your frost dates

Your fall garden success hinges on timing. Cool-weather crops need to mature before daytime highs consistently dip into the low 50s. In our region, the first frost usually arrives in mid-October, which means you have roughly six weeks to get plants established. Mark that on your calendar and work backward to plan your planting schedule.

2. Give your plants a cozy cover

Even hardy vegetables appreciate a little shelter. Cold frames are a gardener’s best friend in the fall -  they trap heat, block wind, and extend your harvest. You can buy one at a garden center, build your own with plywood and plastic sheeting, or repurpose materials you already have. For small garden beds, a hinged plexiglass lid works wonders; for bigger spaces, opt for heavy-duty plastic stretched over a simple frame.

3. Invest in your soil’s future

If you’re not planning to harvest this fall, plant a cover crop instead. Cover crops boost soil health, prevent erosion, suppress weeds, and can even feed your soil with nitrogen. Edible options include peas and beans, while clover, rye, buckwheat, and sorghum are excellent for pure soil enrichment.

What to plant now

Fall is prime time for cool-weather champions. Leafy greens like chard, kale, lettuce, and spinach love the chill. Broccoli, beets, carrots, and radishes can handle a bit of frost, while root vegetables like fennel, parsnips, turnips, and Brussels sprouts practically thrive in it. And if you want a sweet treat for later, rhubarb might just become your new favorite fall project.

Even if you decide not to plant this year, keep this guide handy. Come next season, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running and planting for an early, delicious harvest.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visithttp://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Investing in Insulation Pays Off

Unless you live in a brand new house, it’s more than likely that your home doesn’t have enough insulation. In fact, roughly three out of every four houses in our area are underinsulated and homeowners are paying the price in both energy bills and comfort. 

Back in the day, insulation requirements weren’t nearly as strict as they are today. To put that into perspective, many homes built in Connecticut as recently as the 60s have about as much insulation as what is now required in Florida where the weather is much warmer year-round. Because people either don’t know they don’t have enough insulation or can’t be bothered to check, many of us are living less comfortably than we should. So here are six big benefits to making this smart investment in your home. 

It will reduce your heating and cooling bills. 

Insulation provides resistance to heat flow both in and out of the house. It will keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer simply by making it less difficult for air to get in or out. You’ll see the difference in your gas and electricity bills instantly.

It will make your home more comfortable. 

A lot of people avoid rooms in their houses because they get too warm or cold. This is especially true in the second-floor bedrooms of a Cape Cod-style house. More insulation equates to better temperature regulation and a more comfortable environment all around.

It’s better for the planet.

Energy efficiency is so important as we all try to decrease the impact we have on the environment. People are looking for homes that do their job to reduce their carbon footprint and insulation ensures that less energy is needed to keep homes healthy and happy. 

It helps to increase your resale value. 

As more people are getting clued into how important insulation is for the health of a house, buyers are paying more for homes that waste less. If you’re thinking about selling in the next few years, this is one upgrade that will be worth the investment.

It will keep your home quieter. 

As more of us are working from home, noise has become a hot topic at family dinner tables. Insulation can significantly reduce how volume is carried throughout the home and can also help to cushion external noise from the street. 

It will make your home healthier.

Insulation, when coupled with ventilation, is a home’s best defense against moisture getting into the attic and walls. Once moisture enters a house, it can become mold if not dealt with properly. Mold in the home is a leading cause of asthma and allergies, especially in young children and the elderly. In addition to being harmful, it can also be expensive to remediate.

So there you have it, six reasons why insulation should be on your home improvement bucket list this fall. Have questions? Don’t be shy, message me on Facebook at facebook.com/odonnellbros. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.