The Importance of Air Sealing and Attic Insulation

When it comes to insulating your home, many homeowners tend to focus on the type and amount of insulation they need. While these are important factors to consider, another crucial aspect of home insulation is often overlooked: air sealing.

Proper air sealing is essential for effective home insulation, yet it’s a step that’s often skipped or done improperly. In this article, we’ll explore why air sealing is so important and how you can ensure your home is properly sealed.

What Is Air Sealing?

Before we dive into the reasons why air sealing is essential, let’s first define what it is. Air sealing is the process of sealing gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior to prevent air from leaking in or out. These gaps and cracks can occur anywhere in your home, including around windows and doors, in the attic, and in the basement or crawl space.

Why Is Air Sealing Important?

Air sealing is important for several reasons:

1. Improves energy efficiency: One of the main reasons to air seal your home is to improve its energy efficiency. When your home is properly sealed, you’ll prevent warm or cool air from escaping, which means your HVAC system won’t have to work as hard to maintain a comfortable temperature. This can result in significant energy savings and lower utility bills.

2. Enhances indoor air quality: Another benefit of air sealing is that it can improve your indoor air quality. When outside air leaks into your home, it can bring in pollutants, allergens, and other contaminants that can affect your health. By sealing up these gaps and cracks, you’ll keep your indoor air cleaner and healthier.

3. Prevents moisture problems: Air leaks can also allow moisture to enter your home, which can lead to a host of problems, including mold growth, rotting wood, and structural damage. By properly sealing your home, you’ll prevent moisture from entering and reduce the risk of these issues.

4. Increases comfort: When your home is properly sealed, you’ll also enjoy increased comfort. You’ll eliminate drafts and cold spots, and your home will maintain a more consistent temperature throughout. This means you’ll be able to enjoy a comfortable living space all year round.

Air Sealing and Insulation Go Hand-In-Hand

It’s important to note that neither insulation or air sealing alone are enough to reduce heat flow. Air sealing should always be done before insulation is installed.

As part of our air sealing strategy, we typically air seal the attic first since this is where the most significant leakage occurs. The basement and crawl space areas are our second priority. Air sealing these spaces eliminates a major source of cold air infiltration.

Fiberglass insulation is too light to stop air leakage, however, spray foam insulation can effectively reduce air leakage. Air sealing and insulation upgrades from Larson & Keeney Home Services can possibly cut your heating and cooling costs in half.