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Air Sealing
Air Sealing is a system of techniques used to prevent air leakage in a home. Air Sealing keeps warm air from leaving the home during the winter and also stops cooler air inside during the summer. A properly air sealed home is an energy-efficient home.
25% of home energy loss is attributed to air leakage
Air leakage occurs when outside air enters, and conditioned air leaves the home through cracks and openings. It is not synonymous with proper ventilation.
During the colder seasons, too much air may enter the home, causing drafts. Inversely, warm air from inside home can leak out. In the warmer seasons, cooler, conditioned air can leak out.
Besides wasting energy air leakage causes a number of different problems.
Air leakage also contributes to moisture problems. Moisture can compromise a structure’s stability. It can also eventually lead to mold, which can negatively affect your family’s health.
Overall, reducing the amount of air that leaks in and out of your home is an easy, affordable way to reduce heating and cooling costs, improve your home’s durability, increase comfort all year round, and create a healthier indoor environment.
*Read our blog about why it’s especially important to air seal in the Spring.
Where to Air Seal in Your Home
Air sealing doesn’t only apply to common areas such as windows and doors. There are many crevices that require air sealing. Additionally, each area requires different techniques and materials. Some of the more common areas are:
Windows and Doors
Switch Plates
Attic Kneewalls and Attic Access
Dropped Ceiling/Soffits
Staircase Framing at Exterior Wall
Porch Roof
Chimney Shaft
Electrical Outlets
Reccessed Lighting
Ducts
Whole House Fan
Exterior Wall Penetrations
Fireplace Wall
Garage Walls
Living Place Walls
Wall- and Window-Mounted AC Units
Common Walls Between Attached Units
Foundations and Floors
Can you DIY?
There are a number of ways you can air seal your home. The firs step is always to detect air leaks. (Hint: Check for suspicious spots on your ceiling paint and carpets. They may be caused by air leaks in interior wall/ceiling joints and wall/floor joists.)
It is never a bad time to make sure your home is properly air sealed. The United States Department of Energy provides a lot of information about air sealing on their website. Additionally, you can buy materials for weatherstripping at your local hardware stores.
Should you hire professionals?
Air sealing is an important home improvement project. Every home (and budget) can benefit from it in the long run. However, it can also be labor intensive and confusing.
Finding out which materials to use and how to use them properly takes a lot of time to research. Afterwards, the actual installation takes more time without a team of professionals. When you account for the time spent, physical labor, and cost of materials, you may find that hiring professionals can be more cost-effective.
When the job is done properly with the best materials, the return on our investment can be significantly higher.
Trust the experts. Call Cameron Home Insulation today!
If you live in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia, Cameron Home Insulation should be your first choice when it comes to selecting the best insulation service for your home. We are an independently owned and operated contractor that has been in the full-service home insulation business for four generations and have expertise in the installation and removal of all types of insulation as well as air sealing.
Certified Energy Star program homeowners may qualify for air sealing rebates and incentives.
Call 443-290-5182 for more information on how you can benefit from a FREE Home Energy Assessment.
