Hopefully a silly question. I have a Zooz XS tilt sensor which I would like to add to my attic drop ladder door connected to a Zooz Switch to turn the lights on up there when I pull the ladder down. Would something like that work? or would it basically think its open when its closed and vice versa? And yes, I was going to use those with a toggle switch so that if it fails, I could still manually turn that light on or off as needed. Thanks!
Even if the reports are the opposite of what you would expect, you can program the rule to work either way. You can make a rule so Closed turns ON the light if you need to.
So yes, it should work as long as it tilts enough to register, which I think it should.
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Assuming that is a wooden ladder that folds out you might think about a contact sensor which is simple to maintain with lots of options.
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I actually do have a spae ring sensor (nd aeotech for that matter, but that this is SO SLOW) . I was just looking at the Zooz as it's about to be retired from its current assignment. Yes it is a wooden ladder, and yes I could just as easily use a contact sensor . Great idea!
This… I have had an Iris contact sensor in place for years on my attic stairs and it works great. Before installing I would get up there and realize I forgot to turn on the lights or worse forget to turn off.
Speaking of attic pull down stairs, I am not affiliated with this company, but the Attic Tent is an awesome addition to keep your heating bills lower so heat doesn’t escape into the attic all winter long. Simple to install.
https://www.attictent.com/The-Original-Attic-Tent.asp
My attic is a sea of fiberglass. No way I'm going up there. 
- Pants with socks over your pants (tape if needed).
- Tuck undershirt into pants.
- Disposable face mask.
- Hoodie with the hood pulled tight (like Kenny from South Park).
Not so bad like that. I used to have to go into other peoples attics on occasion.
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Not during Summer.... 
Says the guy more worried about the heat than the fibreglass....
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Wish I had a choice. In Texas that is where they usually put the HVAC air handler and heat pump. have to go up there to change the filters. And even then it is in the far side of the attic from the entry.
Right now I keep a pair of crutches at the top of the ladder, and with one of them, I can reach across to flip the switch up. I'm thinking either a tilt or contact sensor and a zooz switch might be a safer option.
That reminds me of a prank we played on a newbie when I worked for the airlines. In August. In Albuquerque. Except that variation had a fleece-lined rain suit and helmet with face and neck shields, and winter gloves. hand and foot opening taped with duck tape. The pilot came around the corner and saw the guy standing there to marshall the plane in and slammed on the brakes three times because he was laughing so hard... We never saw that guy again after that flight.
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-There's no floor-dancing on the rafters is required
-I had additional fiberglass blown in-rafters can't be seen
Yup... been there many times. I guess when you have been in thousands of houses before the drywall goes up it makes it easier to think about where there is a solid surface.
NGL, I have lived in my current house for 6 years and have not been in the attic at all. Access hatch is in the master closet, does not look fun trying to wedge a ladder in there.
One benefit of having a newer home is the use of closed cell foam insulation.
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out house is only 3 years old. the isulation is that blown ing stuff . Im sure its fiber glass, but it looks like shredded news paper
I wish the space was usable. Maybe closed cell foam on the underside of the roof sheathing. I'm sure that would lead to something or other down the road when/if the roof started leaking-or maybe not.
cellulose
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Yep, that's exactlty what I have. Not as dangerous as fiberglass in the usual sense, but it's still all hella "dusty" breathing-wise if you disturb it. And it sticks to you pretty good if you have to root through it. But it works well, and I'm happy to have it over fiberglass.
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Ahh, what is that stuff made from? I know if you happen to get into it, it tracks everywhere. Over the garage, there isn't anything. I put MDF Panels over that part just to get some area for storage. I'm thinking I might take them up and put some of the pink stuff in there then put the MDF back. We are trying to get the temperatures in the garage to be a bit more manageable. We do a lot of dog fosters, but occasionally we run across one that doesn't get along with our cats, and we need a place to put them. I'm also looking for an option to heat out there in the winter. Looks like the hottest temp in the garage this summer was 100.9 in August. I didn't get an Ecowitt sensor in the attic until a few weeks ago, so I won't have the numbers for up for a while.
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That's how our house is and is pretty standard in new SFH construction in Chicago. Builders need to know how to construct and manage a closed envelope. New construction techniques, even in the last decade, are highly impactful. Another practice that has become standard is basement floor hydronic heat. In Chicago basements are all lived in space. Our newish new house is about 50% larger than our old old house and energy costs are really not much different. Most important is that the house feels so much more comfortable.
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Is this because of the fire and everything is pretty much built on top of the old? I notice in a lot of shows I watch about chicago, they have a lot of basement apartments accessible from the street.
