If your home feels drafty, it might be time to consider air sealing. This process involves identifying and sealing up the cracks, gaps, and openings in your home’s envelope—its walls, windows, doors, and other areas where air can leak in or out. Proper air sealing not only reduces drafts but also improves your home’s overall energy efficiency, comfort, and air quality.
Benefits of Air Sealing
- Energy Savings: Sealing leaks prevents the loss of heated or cooled air, reducing the strain on your HVAC system and lowering your energy bills.
- Improved Comfort: Eliminating drafts can significantly enhance the comfort of your living spaces, keeping the temperature consistent throughout your home.
- Enhanced Indoor Air Quality: By reducing air leaks, you can also minimize the infiltration of dust, pollen, and other outdoor pollutants, improving the air quality inside your home.
- Increased HVAC Efficiency: With less air leakage, your heating and cooling systems can operate more efficiently, potentially extending their lifespan.
Common Areas for Air Sealing
- Windows and Doors: These are typical sources of drafts. Sealing gaps with weatherstripping or caulk can make a big difference.
- Attic and Basement: Unsealed openings in attics and basements can allow a significant amount of air to enter or escape. Insulating these areas and sealing any gaps can drastically improve energy efficiency.
- Ductwork: Leaky ducts can lead to significant energy losses. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve your heating and cooling system’s efficiency.
How to Get Started
- Conduct an Energy Audit: Consider hiring a professional to perform an energy audit, which often includes a blower door test to pinpoint exactly where your home is leaking air.
- DIY Checks: You can also do some simple checks yourself, like looking for visible gaps around windows, doors, and lighting fixtures, or feeling for drafts on a windy day.
DIY Air Sealing Tips
- Caulk and Weatherstrip: Use caulk for stationary cracks and gaps and weatherstripping for parts of your home that move, like doors and operable windows.
- Foam Gaskets: Install foam gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on walls to reduce air leaks.
- Door Sweeps: Attach door sweeps to the bottoms of your exterior doors to block air from leaking in from the outside.
Air sealing is a cost-effective way to enhance your home’s energy efficiency and comfort. While some tasks can be accomplished as DIY projects, others may require professional assistance, especially when dealing with complex areas like attics, basements, and HVAC ductwork. By addressing these issues, you can enjoy a warmer, more comfortable home and lower energy bills.