Can lights are a great way to brighten any room or hallway. They are versatile enough to install almost anywhere, however when installed improperly they can lead to many health and home problems. There are two types of can lights we are going to talk about, air tight and unsealed. Depending on where you want the can lights to go, it is important that you have the right ones. If you are installing can lights into a drop or drywall ceiling in your basement, unsealed can lights will be fine and even beneficial due to the holes for heat to escape. Installing can lights into an area with an attic above you, make sure they are air tight for a few reasons.

1) The air quality in your attic is contaminated with dust mites, bug parts and microscopic partials. These particles can travel from your attic into your families living space and trigger allergies in children, adults and pets.

2) As the cost of heating and cooling our homes increase, it is important to find ways to do this efficiently. Every time your furnace turns on it pulls air from any opening within your home through its return duct, this means it pulls air through can lights which are not sealed tightly. It creates unsafe air to breath and costs you more money to heat and cool your home.

3) Another problem with unsealed can lights is the heat, which is lost into the attic during the Winter. This heat which is lost can create an ice dam on the roof.a
How to tell if there is air exchange from my attic to my living area:

1. At your attic door see if there is a dark soot around the opening.
2. Bath fan may have an extra layer of dust around it.
3. Your whole house fan shutters always have a layer of soot. Biggest opening in your home, if you have one.
4. Carefully, on a step stool put your hand close to a can light while it’s off and see if the air temperature is different from room temperature. If its cold outside then you’ll feel cold air at the can. The opposite occurs when it’s hot out you’ll feel heat at the can.
5. Excessive dust in your home is a sign of air exchange with your attic. Fewer air leaks equals less dust.

Contact us with any questions about sealing openings to your attic or Call Charles at 708-361-1555