air sealing: Frequently Asked Questions

AIR SEALING: ONE SERVICE, HUGE ENERGY DIFFERENCE

WHAT IS AIR SEALING?

Air sealing is a building performance service that reduces air leaks and holes in the building’s perimeter, or building envelope. Though many of the areas that leak air in your home or commercial space are small, together they often add up to a lot of air loss, which means a waste of both energy and money on utility bills.

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES AIR SEALING MAKE?

The most obvious benefit of air sealing is a boost in building comfort. You’ll feel fewer drafts in which translates directly into a cozier environment. In addition to making your building comfortable, air sealing keeps your heated and cooled (or “conditioned”) air in your building where you want it. Your AC and heating systems don’t have to work as hard to keep your structure at your desired temperature, meaning better system efficiency and energy savings each month. Air sealing can also boost system durability and improve indoor air quality (IAQ).

HOW MUCH WILL AIR SEALING SAVE ME?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that proper air sealing and insulation will save Massachusetts homeowners around 18% on overall heating and cooling costs. Based on blower door testing and utility sponsored energy modeling we have seen projects save between 10% and 50% on their utility bills depending on how leaky the buildings were to begin with.

WHERE DOES MY BUILDING LEAK?

You can probably think of some areas that may let air in and out in your western Massachusetts home or business, like around doors and leaky windows. There are, however, lots of other sources of air leakage that are not as easy to identify. Our Energia team is sure to inspect and air seal these common culprits, which include:

• Wall “top plates” between the wall framing and the drywall above

• Electrical wire penetrations through the floor or ceiling

• Electrical boxes at light fixtures, ceiling fans, and detectors in the attic

• Bath fan, whole house fan, and recessed can housings

• Bath and kitchen fan ducts

• Plumbing supply lines and vent pipes

• Drain pipes under bathtubs, toilets, and sinks

• Dropped soffits and cavities above cabinets

• Around Fireplace and chimney flues

• Cut-ins for duct registers

• Chases for plumbing, ducts, and other building infrastructure that run from the basement or crawl space to the attic

I HAVE INSULATION; DO I STILL NEED TO AIR SEAL?

Definitely. Even if your building is perfectly well-insulated, air sealing is a key component to great home performance. Air sealing is like adding a windbreaker on top of your fleece jacket; it both boosts warmth and cuts down significantly on lost heat. Together, air sealing and insulation work like a dynamic duo to make sure the air you want in the home stays put (whether in the winter or summer), and that no unwanted air leaks in.

HOW DOES ENERGIA AIR SEAL?

Our Energia team uses gun foam and caulk to seal around many areas that need air sealing. We also use reflective foil, foam, and other rigid materials to help seal up larger air leaks and holes in the home.

DOES MY WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS HOME NEED AIR SEALING?

The vast majority of homes, apartments and buildings will benefit from proper air sealing. That being said, the best way to determine which areas are in most need of air sealing is to start with an energy audit. Our team at Energia will help you get a top-quality energy audit that will expose areas of inefficiency within your home by using a blower door test and other diagnostic tools to determine where air is leaking the most.

Ready to get started? Want to learn more? Click HERE to get in touch with us today to set up your air sealing appointment.

Energia proudly serves Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin, Berkshire, and Worcester Counties.

Want a free estimate?

Our team can provide free estimates for your air sealing project.

Call 413-322-3111

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