Air Sealing

Insulation Works Best With Proper Sealing

Insulation doesn’t work well with air flowing through it. Simply adding insulation without air sealing first will only give you marginal improvements.  Visit the US Dept. of Energy website for more information about why air sealing is so important in any insulation project.
Air leakage, or infiltration, occurs when outside air enters a house uncontrollably through cracks, gaps, and openings.
Most homes have the equivalent of a large open window in combined air leaks in their attic alone!  Many air leaks and drafts are easy to find because they are easy to feel — like those around windows and doors. But holes hidden in attics and crawlspaces are more difficult and a bigger problem.In the illustration on the left, this shows the warm air generated by the heating system rising into the attic around recessed lights, ceiling fans, attic access doors, and registers. Unfortunately, the homeowner is paying to heat their attic! This is not something any of us want to do.

Up in the attic, there are always large holes and gaps that the builder never sealed and you'd never know about. As an example, the picture on the left is a chase that was likely intended to hold pipes and wires that run from the attic to the first floor. Unfortunately, not only is it not being used but it allows air to freely move back and forth between the attic and the living space of the home (this is not what you want).

Primary Reason A Home Is Uncomfortable

Do any of these apply to you?  Rooms in your home that are always hot in the summer and cold in the winter, no matter how long their heater or air conditioner is running?  In the winter, do you have cold floors, or feel drafts in certain parts of your home?  Are you generally uncomfortable in your home?  In the summer, do you have rooms that are 10 to 15 degrees hotter than the rest of the house and/or muggy air indoors?

The second reason they call is high utility bills.  Do you pay month than you want to in the winter or summer?

Massive air leaks in the attic and insufficient attic and floor insulation is typically the primary reason a home is uncomfortable and has high heating and cooling costs.

To find these penetrations, we use blower doors and infrared cameras. These tools are highly effective at detecting hidden air movement and thermal deficiencies.

To permanently fix issues, Ecohomes will seal all penetrations that exist in the attic using foam boards, spray foams, Tyvek and other sealants to ensure the warm and cold air you are paying to create stays out of the attic.

Call today and a certified EcoHomes adviser can visit your home at your convenience to assess your home and determine how leaky it is.

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