The Basics of Air Sealing
Have you ever considered sealing air leaks in your home? Air leakage can result in a lot of problems in your home. When it’s cold, too much air may enter the house through cracks and openings causing you to spend a lot more running your HVAC unit. On the other hand, when it’s warm, you may not get enough fresh air and this affects your indoor air quality. Additionally, air leakage can result in moisture issues and mold eventually compromising the health and structural integrity of your home. That’s why contractors recommend sealing any cracks and openings in your home using the best air sealing techniques.
With proper sealing, you’ll never have to deal with uncomfortable drafts around your home. You get to enjoy a better air quality and protect yourself from pollutants and allergens that are likely to invade your space. Sealing should be done before insulation in any given property.
Because air sealing is so important, it needs to be done properly.
Let’s look at ways to get the air sealing process done right:
Inspecting Your Home For Air Leaks
First and foremost, you need to inspect your home for cracks and openings that could leak air. Check the doors and windows for spaces. Look out for gaps and spaces around wires and pipes. If there was caulking and weather stripping, check to see if it was applied properly or there are still gaps and cracks. If you notice daylight around a door or window frame, it means there’s a possible air leak.
Pressure Testing
Pressure testing which is commonly referred to as the door blower test is done to determine air leaks in a given space. Air flow is recorded using a device known as a manomenter and the points of air leaks are exposed through cracks and holes that are present in the building envelope. Finding the air leaks is important as it helps you to determine the beast sealing techniques that will be a good investment.
Caulking and Weather Stripping
Once you have discovered that there are possible airleaks in your home the next logical step is to seal them and do everything possible to ensure it’s as tight as possible. Consider replacing any old doors and windows with better ones and weather-stripping them. Caulking the doors and windows that leak air can also make a big impact. Don’t forget the areas where electric wiring comes through the walls. Caulking can help to seal those spaces.