I have contacted local insulation contractors about putting additional insulation into the attic area of our ranch style home. There are 15 can lights in our house, 12 of which were installed 6 years ago and are IC type. The other 3 date from 1974 when the house was built. One contractor has said only the 3 older lights need to be boxed around before blowing in the insulation as the other 12 are IC rated. Another contractor says all the lights need to be boxed in as even the IC rated lights can still leak air. Doing this will cost about $600 more. Is there anyone out there who has done this work and can give me some input as to whether it is worth the extra cost to box in all the lights. Thank you.
WildWoodWill
Replies
Boxing them in could make them over heat and start a fire. Check with the mfg or a electrician first.
You might consider replacing the older ones. Do it your self using foam board. Boxing them in will save energy.
If the cans are IC rated then covering them with insulation will not matter Check label on can.Of course the non IC cans need to be left uncovered.There are IC cans that are also call airtite which help prevent air leaks into the attic.I would replace the non IC cans and then blow away.Frank
What Frank said, get rid of the 35 year old ones and blow it.
The insulation is supposed to stop air flow.
Joe H
Unless the IC cans are also air-tight cans, you will have air leakage and heat loss through them. I would box them and, as others say, replace the old ones. I don't even really trust the air-tight cans to be very air tight for long. The gasket setups on them are pretty cheesy, and the cans themselves still have seams and small holes in them from rivets, etc.Steve
Read the fine print on the IC rated light fixtures instructions. If you blow too much cellulose over them, they will overheat and the thermal cutout will have your lights turning off and on. I don't like the idea of cellulose touching the surface of those cans, IC or not. They get very hot, especially when the homeowner decides to change bulb types from the ones listed on the fixture.
I'm assuming the contractor is telling you to box them in and leave either a tall closed box or a box with no top to allow the heat to dissipate? If you can't change fixtures, I would definitely box them all in so the cells can't touch the lights.
We live in a very cold area and 24" of cells is the norm for the homes we build. The only type of fixture that we can use without having trouble are the more expensive double walled cans. I like the ones from Progress. They are the only lights that I've never had trouble with overheating problems when buried in cellulose. Therefore, that's all we use..cause I hate problems down the road!!
Most standard IC fixtures are a joke as far as air leakage. They have holes all over them. If you use a sealed bottom trim instead of open spots or floods, then the light will usually overheat.....for sure it will overheat with cells on top of it more than a few inches.