Insulation Around Recessed Lighting In Attic

How to insulate around can lights.

Insulation around recessed lighting in attic.

Make your next attic insulation project that much easier by adding a smartcap attic recessed light cover to your list of hard working insulation accessories. Once this has been installed from the attic side it s possible to spray foam over the box. Most recessed lights are not compatible with insulation and oftentimes start cycling on off after they have been buried with cellulose foam fiberglass etc. If you have recessed light fixtures in your home you may also have a significant volume of conditioned air escaping into your attic.

Now it will be safe to heap insulation onto that spot. Pushing the insulation away is not an effective solution since it creates air passages in the building envelope and wastes energy. It s best to build an air tight box out of rigid foam insulation with the seams sealed with contractors tape. You can stem the flow of air and money by air sealing your light fixtures from the inside with just a roll of painter s tape a can of spray foam insulation and a tube of painter s caulk.

Up in the attic clean the ceiling surface around each fixture slit the cover to accommodate the electrical cable and place the cover over the fixture. Apply the sealant around the cable and along the edge of the cover where it rests on the ceiling. Since you mentioned your cans have holes in them they are most definitely not ic rated. Rather keep that insulation in the attic and other areas away from recessed cans and use a different less flammable option around recessed lighting fixtures.

Stuff a little insulation into the gap of the ic rated cans between the can and the ceiling drywall to prevent heat from flowing into the attic from the room below. Safest insulation around recessed lighting rock wool also called mineral slag or mineral wool is the safest least flammable insulation option around recessed cans. Look for a label marked ic inside the. Turn off the lights and leave them off for at least 10 minutes before you touch them.

The lights malfunction is a concern and a safety hazard. The box should be sized so that there is at least an inch of air between the ic fixture and the box. Smartcap attic recessed light cover is a pre assembled easy to install fire rated recessed light cover that simply unfolds into a perfect cap over non ic rated attic light fixtures requiring a 3 gap between fixture and insulation. Place a stepladder under one the lights climb it and remove the bulb.

If you are using incandescent bulbs the cans can get hot.