You shouldn’t have to wait for winter to consider air-sealing your home. On average, in an American homestead, the air-conditioner and furnace take up approximately 43% of the energy bills.1 This makes home air-sealing the best place to start when it comes to the reduction of energy bills.
Air sealing involves finding all leakage points in your home (attic, basement, crawlspace, walls, etc) and sealing them in an effort to conserve energy. Simple things like keeping the warm air in and the cold air out can have a big impact on making your home energy efficient.
How Does Home Air-Sealing Benefits Homeowners?
Save money
Air sealing your home will result in lower utility bills as less energy will be used to keep your house warm. The department of energy states that air sealing is a worthwhile investment as it can pay for itself within a couple of years.2
Before air sealing your home, have insulation experts conduct an audit. This will reveal how much insulation your house has and where it is and whether or not you should add insulation. For new houses, you can get this information from your contractor, but for older homes, inspection is necessary.
Enhance comfort
Comfort is one of the most underrated benefits of being a homeowner. This comfort is, however, reduced when your house has air leaks, especially during winter, when you have to deal with cold floors and cold air from drafts.
Sealing leaks results in better humidity control, reduces the chances of air dams formation on the roof, and decreases noise pollution. It also improves the air quality of your home by reducing the amount of dust, pollen, and pests that enter your home.
Conservation of energy
Think of your home as an envelope. If it is well sealed, you will keep the warm air in, but if there are leaks, cold air from outside will get in. This will then lead to the air conditioner working excessively hard to regulate indoor temperatures.
Having consistent indoor temperatures ensures that energy consumption by heating and cooling systems is reduced.
Get Value for Your Money With Home Air-sealing
The longer you wait to air-seal your home, the longer it takes for you to start enjoying the benefits that come with it. Start by identifying the areas in your home that require to be sealed. For this, you will need a home insulation expert, who will also provide you with a cost estimate along with recommendations of the best place to start.
A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work with home air sealing as each house is different. An energy audit will reveal exactly what your home needs and the areas that are costing you much money.
Air sealing your home is a long term investment that you shouldn’t put off anymore.
Links to sources used
- Breaking Down the Typical Utility Bill | | ENERGY STAR- https://www.energystar.gov/products/ask-the-expert/breaking-down-the-typical-utility-bill
- Adding Insulation to an Existing Home | Department of Energy- https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/weatherize/insulation/adding-insulation-existing-home
