With air leaks becoming a problem, it’s actually a good idea to close off the gaps and create an air seal. Not only does this keep your house warmer and lower your energy bill, but it also helps filter out pollutants to make your home purer.
But how can you create an air seal?
You can create an air seal in your home using insulation, but you need a material that is airtight. In other words, you would use something like foam insulation because it’s the only type of insulation that totally seals off the environment.
Definition of air seal – A seal that prevents the passage of air or vapor
Adding foam insulation can create an air seal that blocks air movement into and out of your home, saving you on energy costs
Air leakage can lead to unnecessarily high home heating & cooling costs, costing you around 30% of your yearly spending.
Installing foam insulation can literally go into every corner of your home. That is why it’s so effective at saving energy and keeps your bills down to a reasonable amount.
At the end of the day, cellulose or fiberglass insulation just won’t cut it if you want air sealing. You need insulation that will remove air infiltration without relying on manual labor.
The best and easiest solution is to take insulation and seal it — nothing could go wrong.
When thinking of traditional insulation, it’s like a wool sweater. But when talking about foam, it’s more like a windbreaker.
Wool sweaters are best for warmer but not too hot fall days. They won’t keep you very warm in windy weather, but they do shield you from the cold.
A wind jacket is much better than a regular jacket for keeping you warm and protecting you from the cold: it does has more of an airtight seal and essentially acts like insulation.
Homeowners are quickly realizing that creating an air seal in their home not only enhances the comfort & efficiency of heating but also carries a host of other benefits too.
An air seal created in your home can reduce the chance of air-born illness.
Foam insulation is a great choice for allergy sufferers. It’s able to keep allergens from around your home outside, so you don’t have to worry about them being indoors. Fiberglass and cellulose insulation both work by trapping allergen particles inside the material which can cause problems for allergy sufferers.
Another factor to remember is the role moisture plays in your home.
Creating that air seal would help keep moisture out of your home in places where it likes to strongly get into like the crawl space, rim joist, and attic. Doing so prevents problems related to mold and mildew growth in the future.
Homeowners can avoid mold and other moisture problems by using fire-retardant foam insulation.
Insulating your whole house with spray and injection foam will create an airtight seal that won’t let any cold air in during the winter. However, you will want to take care of other problem areas as well: One of the most common places to draught through is around doors and windows and we can help!
The first step to creating the air seal is removing old insulation in the attic, crawlspace, and rim joist areas. When adding spray foam to these areas of your home, this step is crucial.
The next step is actually installing the insulation. This can be done with spray or injection foam insulation.
Spray foam is sprayed into the open cavities of your home, while injection foam is injected right into the enclosed walls. Foam insulation fills in every little space. It also closes off any gaps and cracks where you might have a draft.
You should also seal up door and window frames as well as openings that need to be closed. Caulking and weather stripping are the most common materials used for this.
You should also caulk and air seal around your plumbing, replace your door bottoms and thresholds, keep your fireplace’s flue damper tightly closed when not in use, and cover single-pane windows with storm windows.
Air leaks in your home can be a major problem. They not only increase energy bills, decrease comfort and create a larger indoor space, but they also cause dirt and dust to seep into your home. One way you can solve the issue is by sealing up any leaks. Heat will inevitably escape out of an insecure home. Our blower door test and energy audit will allow you to identify the problem areas and make changes.
If you're interested in repairing air leaks and making improvements to your property, we're happy to take a look at it. From the attic to the basement, we can locate any leaks for you. For more information on our services, please feel free to call or email us anytime.
Air sealing is targeted at common locations where air leaks can happen in a house:
Note that you should never install insulation without air sealing. Air sealing will prevent drafts, which can amplify the effects of drafts. The best practice is to install air sealing first, then insulation. As a part of our air sealing strategy, we always start with the attic because that's where the most significant leakage usually occurs. We find that a lot of homes also leak in their basement and crawl spaces. When we seal these up, it eliminates a major source of air movement inside the house.
Spray foam is heavier than fiberglass insulation, which is why it's able to effectively stop air leakage. Spray Foam Insulation Today can also help you with air sealing & insulation, which can lower your heating and cooling bills in half.
As part of the homeowner inspection process, we offer a free blower door test to find out how airtight your house is. If you think it may need an air sealing upgrade, please fill out your contact information today.
We can perform a second blower door test for you after completing our air sealing work. We'll seal up any gaps or leaks so your home will be more airtight - which save energy, provide greater comfort, and result in lower monthly bills.
Don't let your conditioned air escape! We offer a free home insulation check and quote to seal the deal. Call us today or request an estimate for your project online. Not only do we offer an energy audit, but we also have consultations with specialists who can help you reduce electricity costs in your home through tips for household appliances.
We serve those locations:
Seattle, Lakewood, Clyde Hill, Bothell, Federal Way, Kirkland, Renton, Burien, Lake Forest Park, Kent, Mercer Island, Bellevue, Issaquah, Maple Valley, Tukwila, Fairwood, Seatac, Des Moines, Kenmore, Redmond, Sammamish, Everett, Lake Stevens, Eastmont, Lynnwood, Marysville, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, Mill Creek, Mukilteo, Graham, Spanaway, Arlington, Bonney Lake, Parkland, South Hill, University Place, Puyallup, Tacoma
