The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs (or an average of 11% on total energy costs) by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics, floors, tight spaces, and basements. Is it worth it? Absolutely! Airtight sealing your home can save you money and create a healthier, more comfortable environment. Reducing the amount of air entering and leaving your home is a cost-effective way to reduce heating and cooling costs, improve durability, increase comfort, and create a healthier indoor environment. Caulking and weatherstripping are two simple and effective air-sealing techniques that offer a quick return on investment, often in a year or less.
Putty is generally used for cracks and openings between fixed components of houses, such as around door and window frames, while weatherstripping is used to seal components that move, such as doors and windows that can be operated. In basic terms, hermetic sealing of a house minimizes the chance of unwanted air entering the house by identifying leak points. This increases the energy efficiency of the home and creates a more comfortable environment to live in. Air sealing prevents excessive movement of air from the inside to the outside of the house. Limiting air loss through gaps and cracks will save you energy and reduce heating costs during the winter.
Air sealing should always be accompanied by natural ventilation, which allows you to control air flow whenever and wherever you want in your home. Builders can focus their efforts and use sealants, such as good quality sealants, canned foam, duct tape, or a joint product, to stop airflow where it matters most. It's important to note that most of the air-sealing homes listed on these lists are not located inside wall cavities. Homes built very recently (which already have a lot of insulation and hermetic sealing) run a certain risk of getting too tight. Mechanical ventilation technology ensures that your home receives a constant flow of clean, cold air to replace stale, warm and humid air. It was a lot of fun, but it also took a lot of different air sealing projects to make a big dent in the tightness of the building envelope.
Hermetic sealing professionals receive extensive training and hands-on experience before they show up at your doorstep. These openings, which are the main source of excess air flow, are one of the first areas addressed when sealing air in a home. Keep in mind that hermetic sealing alone does not eliminate the need for adequate insulation to reduce heat flow through the building envelope. Along with insulation, hermetic sealing is one of the most important things you can do to improve the comfort, health, and energy efficiency of your home, and it's often overlooked by homeowners and contractors alike. Developing an effective and practical air sealing strategy starts with understanding that some leak points are more problematic than others.
When it's hotter and less windy, there may not be enough air coming in, which can result in poor indoor air quality. Sealing the air in your home is a worthwhile investment as it translates into energy efficiency, comfort and value to your home. Sometimes people think that a draft is a good thing; that it keeps the air moving and that fresh air is filtered throughout the house; however, this is a misconception.
