From the Experts at Crack & Attic Doctor, Serving Calgary & Area

The chinooks are nice while they last, but every Calgarian knows the reality: when the deep freeze hits, the temperature can plummet. We’re talking about those notorious -25°C, -30°C, and colder nights that test the limits of your home’s thermal envelope.

If your furnace is running non-stop and your energy bills are climbing faster than the cost of Stampede tickets, the problem is often hiding in plain sight: your attic.

As Calgary’s trusted insulation experts, Crack & Attic Doctor has prepared the definitive pre-winter checklist to ensure your attic doesn’t turn into a giant heat chimney this winter. Follow these three steps to maximize comfort, minimize costs, and prevent costly damage.

Step 1: 🔍 The Visual Check: Is Your Insulation Thick Enough?

Calgary’s building codes and energy efficiency standards have evolved, meaning the insulation you had installed 10, 15, or 20 years ago is likely no longer sufficient for our extreme climate.

The R-Value Reality Check:

Look for R-50 or R-60: The current recommendation for attics in Climate Zone 7 (which includes Calgary) is an R-Value of R-50 to R-60.
The Depth Test: In your attic, your insulation should be a uniform layer that is generally 18 to 22 inches deep (assuming it’s modern, low-density blown-in fiber).
The Joist Rule: If you can clearly see the tops of the ceiling joists (the wooden beams that run across the attic floor), you definitely need a top-up. Those joists are thermal bridges, letting heat bypass your shallow insulation.

🔑 If you’re looking for professional attic insulation top-up in Calgary, this visual check is your first clue.

Step 2: 🌬️ The Air Seal Test: Where Your Heat is Escaping

Insulation only slows the rate of heat loss. Air sealing stops it. Think of it this way: a thick winter jacket is great, but if your zipper is wide open, you’ll still freeze!

The majority of heat loss in a Calgary home is through warm, conditioned air escaping into the attic through small gaps.

Key Areas to Check for Air Leaks:

Attic Hatch/Door: This is a huge culprit. It needs to be properly weather stripped and insulated.
Vents and Fans: Areas where exhaust fans (bathroom, kitchen) or plumbing vents penetrate the ceiling.
Light Fixtures: Especially older recessed (pot) lights, which are often not airtight and can let warm air stream into the attic.

If you skip air sealing before adding more insulation, you’re simply blowing heat into your attic, wasting energy, and dramatically increasing the risk of ice dams forming on your roof. Crack & Attic Doctor makes air sealing a critical first step in every top-up service.

Step 3: 🧊 The Ice Dam Defense: A Crucial -30°C Guardrail

When an unsealed, under-insulated Calgary attic gets hit by deep cold, the snow on your roof melts from the heat loss, refreezes at the cold eaves, and forms an ice dam.

Ice Dam Consequences:

Water backs up under your shingles.
It leaks through your roof decking and into your walls or ceilings.
You face thousands of dollars in water damage, drywall repair, and potential mold growth.

The Solution: Proper attic insulation (R-50/R-60) and air sealing keeps your attic floor temperature consistent with the outside air temperature, preventing the snow on your roof from melting. This is the only way to reliably protect your home from ice dam damage during Calgary’s fluctuating winter weather.

🛑 Stop Wasting Heat! Your Urgent Call to Action Before Winter Hits

Don’t let the first -30°C day of winter catch you unprepared!

Right now, your attic is costing you money and risking structural damage from ice dams. If you suspect your home is under-insulated, the time to act is before the deep freeze settles in and service schedules fill up.

At Crack & Attic Doctor, we specialize in high-R-Value insulation top-ups and professional air sealing services tailored specifically for Calgary’s harsh climate. We guarantee lower energy bills and a warmer, more comfortable home this winter.

🏆 Get Your FREE Calgary Attic Assessment!

We make it easy to protect your home. Contact us today to schedule your:

✅ FREE, No-Obligation Attic Health Assessment: We’ll quickly measure your current R-Value, pinpoint critical air leaks, and provide a clear, fixed-price quote for a code-compliant top-up. There is zero obligation, just expert advice.

Ready to stop throwing money out the roof and get peace of mind this winter?

🔥 Click Here to Book Your FREE Pre-Winter Assessment and Lock In Your Savings! 🔥

Contact Crack & Attic Doctor Today:

Call or Text Us Now: (403) 321-2623)

Visit Our Website: www.cracknattic.ca

Email Inquiries: crackandatticdoctor@gmail.com

Your trusted choice for attic insulation top-up in Calgary.

Is Your Calgary Attic Ready for -30°C? The Pre-Winter Insulation Checklist