5 Tips for Sealing Air Leaks
If your energy costs are rising, your home is struggling to maintain a regular temperature, or if your home is feeling extra drafty, it may be due to air leaks. By addressing any and all air leaks in your home, you can save big on energy costs throughout the year. According to the EPA, sealing off your home will cut your heating and cooling costs by an average of 15 percent.
Before you can begin to fix air leaks, you need to find them first. We recommend having a professional evaluate your home as they have knowledge of common air leak spots and where to find them. They will also be able to determine if there has been other damage to your home due to air and moisture coming in. However, if this is a project that you wish to take on your own or in conjunction with a professional, here are 5 important tips to consider when sealing air leaks:
1. Caulk Around Windows
Re-caulking your window with clear acrylic is an easy solution to stop an air leak around it. It’ll be up to you to decide whether or not the entire window has to be re-caulked. You may be able to get away with only caulking over the leak if the draft is tiny, but if the window is old, you may need to reseal the entire frame.
2. Storm Windows
Are there any windows in your home that are more than 20 years old? To improve their efficiency, consider replacing them (or installing storm windows). Do you live in an older house? If you feel your walls aren’t properly insulated, talk to a professional about your choices. Uninsulated walls contribute to 20-40% of a home’s air leakage.
3. Install Weather Stripping Around Windows and Doors
Purchasing and installing weather strips to put along the exterior of your windows and doors is a cheap way to block air leaks. This is not a long-term solution and may only last a few months around regularly used windows and doors. Weather stripping, when combined with heavy drapes or curtains, can be an efficient strategy to retain warm air inside.
4. Seal Your Attic
There are numerous locations in the attic where warm and cooled air might escape, so it’s critical to address each one. Chimneys and recessed lights in particular typically require special attention. While there are certain things you can accomplish on your own, this is one area where you want to hire a professional. They’ll be able to tell you whether your attic is properly insulated. A professional will be able to seal any holes cut into the attic floor or roof to accommodate lights, ceiling and vent fans, plumbing stacks, or attic access.
5. Seal the Basement or Crawl Space
Similar to the attic, we recommend having the basement or crawl space evaluated by a professional. Examine the rim joists and sill plates for any cracks that may exist between them and the foundation. Seal any holes for hose bibs, electrical work, HVAC lines, dryer vents, gas water heater vents, and other items that go through a rim joist or the foundation.
Check for ducting, electrical, plumbing, and other ductwork, electrical, and plumbing openings in the main floor/basement ceiling. Around them, use caulk or foam. Leaky ductwork is a major source of air leakage, so inspect all of the ducting that you can see and reach. Seal any leaks you notice with foil tape or mastic.
Evaluations by Jersey Shore Crawlspace Enhancement
If your home is struggling to maintain a regular temperature or if your energy costs are higher than normal, then you may have air leaks in your home. It’s important to have a professional evaluation to assess the current conditions of your home and recommend improvements that can be made to protect your home and save you money.
We’re proud to offer a comprehensive evaluation to monitor the moisture conditions within your attic, basement, and crawl space. We perform this evaluation 3 times throughout the year to stay in front of seasonal issues, monitor the moisture conditions, and service your vents to ensure proper ventilation. With over 20 years of dedicated service for our fellow neighbors here on the shore, trust your home with the Jersey Shore’s attic, basement, and crawl space pros!
Contact us today to schedule a 22-point inspection to ensure that your home isn’t suffering from air leaks and to give you peace of mind!