Big Air-Sealing Steps Lead To Big Results

Big Air-Sealing Steps Lead To Big Results

In older homes it’s fairly common for air leaks to occur and cause problems. When conditioned air escapes through these air leaks, your utility bills go up and your comfort level goes down. Taking a few steps to seal air leaks can go a long way, especially if you target two of the biggest contributors to energy losses: the attic and the basement.

Before you can fix leaks, you must first find them. Most homes follow the same pattern. For example, wherever construction has two walls (or a wall and floor) joining together, it’s common for air leaks to occur. This is because these materials can separate over time, or they might not have been tightly sealed to begin with.

Finding and Fixing Leaks in the Attic

A variety of systems converge in the attic, such as plumbing, ductwork and electrical wires. Wherever a hole was made to accommodate these systems, there is potential for leaks to occur. Other common locations include the attic hatch and kneewalls. Armed with some caulk, a caulking gun and expanding spray foam, look carefully for leaks. Caulk is best for smaller leaks, and larger holes can be filled in with the spray foam. According to experts, your best bet is to seal up larger leaks — instead of trying to locate every tiny crack — to get big results.

Finding and Fixing Leaks in the Basement

In the basement, it’s common for separation to occur in the rim joist, where the materials of the home’s foundation meet the actual building. Using caulk and spray foam, create a seal all the way around the top rim of the basement. Seal at the bottom, where the walls and floors meet, and in the ceiling, where pipes or ductwork extend into the first floor.

Get big savings from significant air-sealing strategies. If your home shows signs of problems, or if you’re interested in finding out more about increasing efficiency, contact the experts at Air-Tro Inc. We can help you get your home into top-notch condition, and ensure your comfort and energy savings.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about sealing air leaks and other HVAC topics, visit our website.

Air-Tro Inc. services the greater Los Angeles area as well as the metro areas of Riverside and San Bernardino County.

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