Air sealing 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, and weatherstripping is used to seal components that move, such as doors and windows that can be operated. Sealing the attic with air is almost always a good idea.
You'll have a better quality of life and you'll spend less on energy bills, while reducing your home's environmental impact. Therefore, sealing your attic can make your life much easier. But is air sealing really worth it? The answer is yes! Air sealing your home can provide numerous benefits that make it well worth the effort. Not only will you save money on energy bills, but you'll also improve the comfort of your home and create a healthier indoor environment.
To get the most out of air sealing, however, it's important to also ensure that your home has proper insulation and ventilation. Once you've decided to seal your attic airtight, you'll need to learn more about what needs to be done in the process. Sealing the attic with air will close the gaps that cause indoor air to cool down during the winter and get too hot during the summer, saving you trouble. You can save a lot of money by sealing the attic, since air conditioners won't have to work as much all year round.
Airtight attic sealing will help you reduce drafts in the house, increase indoor air quality, save on energy bills, prevent insects, and make your air conditioning system work less. The air is always drier during the winter because cold air cannot hold the same amount of water as warm air. This test can accurately determine the energy loss that occurs due to air leaks and quickly identify these areas so that they can be sealed. When you seal a home, you run the risk of trapping dangerous indoor air pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide, and radon, which can cause dangerous situations.
Keep in mind that hermetic sealing alone does not eliminate the need for adequate insulation to reduce heat flow through the building envelope. The appeal of your home to potential buyers will increase considerably if you insulate and seal it hermetically. It is enough to clean and repair the ducts and insulate them to eliminate approximately 15% of air leaks in the house and, if you add to this the problems of the floors, walls and the roof, almost half of the house's heat losses and gains can be eliminated. If you are planning a comprehensive home remodel that will include some work, review some of the techniques used to seal the air in the construction of new homes and consider performing an energy assessment of the home to identify all the opportunities to save energy and money in your home.
If you're not comfortable doing an airtight sealing project on your own, many certified attic specialists can help you get the job done.
