Air Sealing is the method of preventing air seeping in and out of your home. It is an essential part of keeping your heating and cooling systems running optimally, reducing energy costs, and improving indoor air quality and comfort. Two main methods for air sealing are caulking and weatherstripping. You apply caulk to cracks and openings around stationary components of your home while weatherstripping seals around the doors and windows.
What is Air Leakage?
Air Leakage is what happens when those sealing barriers wear down over time (or don’t exist at all). This allows outside air into your home, or conditioned air to leave your home. This reduces the efficiency of your HVAC systems as they will need to work harder to maintain stable temperatures. Air leakage also leads to poor air quality in your home. In the summer, more humid air can seep into your home, which promotes mould growth and other moisture problems. In the winter, these cracks can lead to drafts and cold spots.
It is integral to the optimal comfort of your home that air leakage is reduced as much as possible. It is one of the main tests an energy auditor will do when assessing your home. If you are undertaking any renovations, make sure air sealing techniques are applied to help you save energy and money long-term.
How Do You Prevent Air Leakage?
To begin, work with a licensed energy advisor to test your home’s air leakage. They will review if you have any drafts or other air leakage issues using special blower door tests. The final results will identify any air leakage issues and how best to remedy them.
Applying caulk and weatherstrip to doors and windows is a sure way to see immediate results in reducing air loss and improving indoor air quality and HVAC efficiency. Caulk and air sealing should also be applied to any areas where plumbing, duct work, or electrical wiring comes through walls, floors and ceilings. You may also apply foam sealant around larger air leaks inside walls and around windows, to help reduce the issue.
Conclusion
Don’t let air leakage dampen the comfort of your home and result in higher heating and cooling costs. Schedule a licensed energy audit of your home today to see if you have any critical issues that need to be addressed. A properly sealed home will lead to better air quality, comfort, and HVAC efficiency and reduce drafts, moisture and mould growth in your home.