PSA: My attic job showed me a problem with how they check for leaks

I was wrapping up an insulation install when the building inspector came through. He focused on the material thickness but ignored a draft coming from the vent stack, so the heat loss is still there. How do you get inspectors to actually look at air sealing instead of just the paper specs?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_mila1mo ago

Man, that's so common. What worked for me was pulling out my phone and showing the inspector a video of the draft with a lighter flame. They see the visual proof and can't ignore it. I also keep a copy of the energy code handy to point out the air sealing rules. It turns a quick check into a real conversation about the problem. Sometimes you just have to guide them to look beyond the paperwork.

beththomas1mo ago

Yeah, I read about using incense sticks for drafts too.

kevin_carr1mo ago

Agree with @the_mila on the visual proof. That lighter trick is gold. I keep a smoke pencil in the truck for the same reason. You wave that thing near a leak and the inspector sees the stream blowing sideways, it clicks for them. They're trained to check boxes on a clipboard, not think about air moving. You gotta make the problem impossible to miss. Then they have to write it up.