"Older [can] lights run hot, and attic insulation cannot come within three inches of the light due to fire hazard. [CanCoverIt] both brings the light to code and adds legal/safe way to add some R value to the [can] light."

- Amazon.com customer, Irving, TX

How It Works

CanCoverIt goes to work right away and keeps working for the life of the home. The secret is a unique combination of high-quality FSK and truly innovative engineering that is designed to work with the heat, not against it.

Left untreated can fixtures bleed energy due to extreme conduction and convection energy loss, reducing overall home efficiency.

CanCoverIt provides safe venting and creates a dynamic thermal equilibrium chamber that controls conduction and convection, greatly enhancing overall home efficiency.

The Science of CanCoverIt

The insulation layer is a non-conductive buffer zone that separates the extreme outside air from the conditioned inside air. However, effective treatment around Non-IC fixtures presents a safety vs. efficiency dilemma.

The breakthrough in solving this challenge was treating the insulation layer as two distinct zones and balancing their perspective requirements.

The area directly around the fixture, Zone 1, is the safety zone and must provide open air space to safely diffuse high levels of heat generated from the light bulb. The large square base geometry provides optimal air volume within the space confinements to best disperse heat for maximum safety.

Conversely, Zone 2 must optimize energy efficiency. The converging panels geometry allows for safe air circulation, while reducing exterior exposure area and allowing for optimum insulation.

Designed To Work With Thermodynamics

The innovative design reduces open, exposed area from previous treatment options by over 98%, effectively isolating the conductive can-light fixture mass from the extreme attic air.

When the light is off, the system achieves a passive equilibrium with the conditioned air inside the home resulting in increased comfort and exceptional energy savings.

Turning on the light activates the controlled airflow mode that safely vents out excess heat, preventing overheating while maintaining insulation.

CanCoverIt's innovative application of geometry and thermal principles join forces to create a passive device that functions as an active system.

Requiring no mechanical parts, the system utilizes the light bulb heat itself as the On/Off switch.

The result is an extremely energy efficient, maintenance free, safety compliant and fail-safe lifetime solution.

What About IC-rated fixtures?

All fixtures, even IC rated, should avoid insulation contact. Best practice requires an appropriate airtight cover that isolates the fixture from the attic conditions, while still enabling air circulation with the conditioned ambient air.

Why? Although air sealing the fixture itself, or at its substrate contact, may mask some problems, it does not fully address the root cause because the fixture itself is the problem!

The can-light's largely metal construction is a highly conductive thermal mass that transfers energy and continually seeks equilibrium with its surrounding environment.

Even though insulation forms a gradient buffer zone between the unconditioned and conditioned air spaces, it is still a volatile area subject to the extreme attic conditions of temperature and humidity.

Insulation is thermal energy, airflow and moisture permeable, thus placing the fixture within this zone subjects it to these extreme conditions, regardless if the fixture is airtight or not. Likewise, merely using a permeable fiber cover does not effectively address the problem. The solution must isolate the fixture itself from the temperature, airflow and moisture issues.

A common problem associated with insulation contact is trapped heat that causes "flickering" lights due to overheating. Besides the obvious annoyance, this inability to dissipate heat can be detrimental to sensitive electronics, particularly expensive LED bulbs. Also, the recent severe winter provided vivid evidence of moisture related problems manifested as “ice-overs” and drafts, but even during more moderate weather the fundamental shortcomings remain.

Our Low Profile series provides an airtight chamber integrated with the homes conditioned air space to promote airflow circulation even from minor temperature fluctuations of an LED light.

Shape Matters!

CanCoverIt's shape is designed for load bearing situations and will last for the life of the home, other shapes will deform under pressure and over time.

Air-seal Inserts:

Metal fixture remains highly conductive and can attract water, leading to mold
Open attic space creates conductive hot and cold spots in the ceiling
Does not protect against heat, shortens the lifespan of CFL and LED light bulbs
Does not address conductive energy loss and compromises insulation envelope

Safety: Fail | Performance:Fail

Flat-top Box Treatment with and without Vents

Cardboard boxes will sag over time in attic.

Weak structure can sag or even collapse under the weight of insulation
Heat risk: Limited size provides insufficient air volume above and/or around fixture
Cardboard, even when treated, is still a fire hazard

Safety: Fail | Performance:Fail

Non-IC Flat Box with Open Vent Channel

Flat horizontal top creates dam effect that impedes airflow and entraps heat
Weak structure can sag or even collapse under the weight of insulation
Concentrates high heat around fixture and sensitive electrical components

Safety: Fail | Performance:Fail

Non-IC Tall Box Treatment

Size provides more air volume to dissipate heat, but compromises insulation
Non insulated top transfers energy and compromises overall home insulation (R-Value)
High heat concentrations within box may damage sensitive electrical components
Closed box can entrap heat, with peak hazard occurring during hot attic conditions

Safety: Fail | Performance:Fail