On a windy day, do you feel a draft that starts upstairs or from your attic? Do you get uncontrollable ice dams on your roof no matter how much venting you add? Recessed Lights could be the issue! Most likely you have more issues than just recessed lights, but it is a great starting point. (this photo shows cold attic air being drawn into the home through a recessed light)
Recessed lighting on the first floor is not our concern, rather recessed cans in your top level that are installed via your attic. Most likely, your home does not utilize Insulation Contact (IC) rated recessed lights; two things happen with these older styled cans – 1) heated air leaks into the attic/cold outdoor air enters attic and is forced inside through recessed lights – 2) due to building codes insulation cannot touch or cover recessed lights in the attic. If you do have insulation touching non IC rated recessed lights, a severe fire hazard could be present!
The issues concerning #1 are that under normal heating conditions heat leaks through these cans and enters your attic – effectively heating your attic which leads to ice dams. Another issue is that on windy winter days, cold air is entering your soffit and/or gable vents and is then being forced down through the recessed lights into the heated portion of your home. If you have many recessed lights on the top floor and live in an area with harsh winters, then you most likely have felt cold drafts and wondered where they could be coming from!
The solution(s): in an ideal world the home owner would all together get rid of recessed lights on the top level and install drop down fixtures that were sealed in the attic with expanding closed cell spray foam (or caulking). OR, they would at least install some new IC rated recessed lights.
Once the new lighting solution has been installed, the homeowner can add more insulation to there attic and safely cover these new light fixtures!
Having an Energy Audit performed on your house will show you all the energy inefficiencies within your home and also give you solutions (i.e. the best way to vent/add insulation to your attic)!
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