The Importance Of Home Air Sealing Your Home On Energy Costs
It is critical to air seal your home to reduce energy costs and improve the quality of your indoor air. Air leaks can result in cooled or heated air escaping and outdoor air coming in, pushing your HVAC system to work harder and consume more energy. It does that to keep the temperature inside your home comfortable. Fortunately, you can lower energy costs and extend your system’s lifespan with home air sealing. Proper air sealing can keep outdoor air pollutants, pests, and allergens out of your home. This way, you will have improved indoor air quality and better health. Home air sealing is an excellent method to save money and ensure a more comfortable and healthier living space.
The Importance Of Home Air Sealing Your Home On Energy Costs
Contents
This article helps you understand why it is essential to air seal your home and other factors about it.
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What is Air Sealing?
Air sealing is the process of sealing openings, like cracks and gaps, in a home’s building envelope to keep air from leaking out and outdoor air from leaking in. The building envelope is the areas outside air can get inside a home, such as floors, walls, ceilings, doors, and windows.
Air sealing is crucial as it reduces the amount of conditioned air that escapes to the outside, helping enhance a home’s energy efficiency. Sealing also prevents allergens and pollutants from getting inside, increasing the home’s indoor air quality.
Some common places that need air sealing are along the rim joists and foundation, around the doors and windows, in the attic and crawl spaces, and around switches and electrical outlets.
Air sealing can be done using tape, caulk, weatherstripping, foam sealant, and other materials. A professional contractor or energy auditor can assist you in finding areas that need to be air sealed. They can also suggest which materials and methods are best to use for your particular home.
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Advantages of Air Sealing Your Home
Air sealing provides a few benefits, including:
- Better energy efficiency: Air sealing can significantly lower how much cooled or heated air escapes a home or building. This reduces the HVAC system load, resulting in lower energy costs and improved energy efficiency.
- Enhanced indoor comfort: Air sealing reduces air leakage, helping maintain a more consistent indoor temperature. This reduces drafts and cold spots around your home.
- Better indoor air quality: Air sealing can keep pollutants and allergens from getting in your home, so there is improved indoor air quality.
- Lower noise pollution: Air sealing also assists in reducing noise pollution as it blocks outside noise from entering your home.
- Increased durability: Air sealing also helps prevent moisture accumulation. Keep in mind that moisture buildup can eventually lead to mold growth and structural damage.
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Most Common Places That May Require Air Sealing
A professional contractor or energy auditor can conduct a blower door test to determine where the air is leaking in a home. They can also recommend the best way for air sealing. Some common areas in a home may need air sealing, such as:
- Windows and doors: Gaps around doors and windows let air enter or escape from a home, causing drafts and energy loss.
- Attic and roof: Holes, gaps, and cracks in the roof and attic can let air in or out. This results in moisture buildup and energy loss.
- Electrical outlets and switches: These parts around your home can make a gap in the wall wherein air can enter or escape.
- Baseboards and crown molding: Gaps between walls, baseboards, and crown molding can let air escape or enter, leading to energy loss and drafts.
- Ductwork: Leaky ductwork can allow conditioned air to escape, reducing the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems.
- Plumbing and wiring penetrations: Gaps around wiring penetrations and plumbing can let air get in or out.
- Chimney and fireplace: Air can escape or enter through the gaps in the flue or fireplace, leading to energy loss and drafts.
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How To Find Air Leaks Around Your Home
Finding air leaks around your home can help improve your energy efficiency and reduce energy bills. Here are several tips on how you can find air leaks in your home:
- Check doors and windows: Examine windows and doors for cracks and gaps. Hold a lighter or candle close to the edges of the doors and windows and watch if the flame will flicker. There may be a draft if it does.
- Check outlets and switches: Hold a lighter or candle near switches or outlets on exterior walls. It can be a sign of air leakage if the flame flickers.
- Examine the attic and basement: Check the basement and attic for air leaks. Pay close attention to spots where pipes or vents penetrate the ceiling or walls.
- Check ducts and vents: Get the ducts inspected for holes, disconnected joints, or leaks. Ensure the HVAC professional examines the vents for cracks or gaps around the edges.
- Use a smoke pencil: A smoke pencil can assist in locating air leaks. It will produce a small amount of smoke that is easy to see in drafts.
- Try a blower door test: A blower door test can find the exact place and size of the air leaks around your home. It uses a special fan to depressurize your house and measure how much air enters via the leaks.
- Hire a professional: Hiring an HVAC professional is the most effective method to identify the air leak source or if you think there is a significant issue. They can conduct an energy audit of your home, using specialized tools to find air leaks. They can also recommend the most suitable methods to improve your home’s energy efficiency.
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Conclusion
Home air sealing is crucial in reducing energy costs and improving your home’s indoor air quality. Hiring a professional to air seal your home is highly recommended. They have the skills and equipment to finish the job efficiently and effectively. Choosing a professional means, you are guaranteed that the task will be done right the first time. This way, you can enjoy staying in an energy-efficient and comfortable home. Hiring a professional is a worthy investment because you will save money on energy bills while enjoying better health and well-being for your household.
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Call Point Bay Fuel For All Your HVAC Requirements
Point Bay Fuel is an excellent provider of heating and cooling services in Ocean County and Monmouth County, New Jersey. Our team of professionally certified technicians is highly skilled in HVAC replacements, installations, tune-ups, repairs, and many more. You can count on our friendly techs to service your system accurately. As the most sought-after HVAC service provider in [Service Area], we are always happy to serve!
Our company offers the region’s most cost-effective heating and cooling services. We are known to provide outstanding service, quality, and affordability. Our maintenance and repair services can help increase comfort and energy efficiency in your home while reducing HVAC costs. We can provide you with the best HVAC solution for your home or business within your budget. All our work is guaranteed to your satisfaction. Call Point Bay Fuel today to schedule a service appointment. We offer free, in-home estimates. Call now!
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