What is Air Sealing?
Air sealing involves identifying and sealing all the cracks and gaps in the building where air can leak out of, typically on the outer layer. This highly reduces the amount of air that leaks in and out of the building and can go along with the insulation process.
Here’s why both air sealing and insulation should be equally important when developing your next home improvement project.
Insulation Does Not Stop Air Movement
The reality is that insulation alone does not block air movement, especially not through cracks between building parts. It will only reduce air movement within the space it occupies, meaning air can still leak between parts in the walls or foundations of your home.
On the other hand, air sealing, as the name suggests, seals any air leaking through areas that it tends to move through. Common trouble spots to air seal include windows, doors, fireplace walls, attics, ducts, chimney shafts, and more, and air leakage accounts for 25-40% of energy used for heating or cooling in a typical residence (Energy Star).
Air Sealing Stops Heat Loss
Convection is the process by which heat is transferred by the movement of air or water, and heat loss is common through convection which may typically be the case in insulated homes without air sealing.
Insulation will generally keep your house warm in the winter or cool in the summer, but it does not entirely block all the heat flowing through cracks, holes, or gaps in and out of your house. Air sealing acts as a windbreaker or like “Flex Seal” to fully prevent those little areas that air can unknowingly flow in and out of.
Air Sealing Reduces Dust and Allergens
It’s important to note that insulation can cause allergies or lead to allergy symptoms, and it often depends on using the right material and structure to provide safer options for different levels of sensitivities in your household.
Common forms of insulation and what they can cause:
- Fiberglass: one of the most common types of insulation used in homes, contains bits of glass in its material that can cause irritation or severe reactions if the particles are knocked loose and end up floating into your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Spray foam, cellulose, and foam board insulation: contains materials that creates and traps dust over time. In many extreme cases, it releases chemicals or allergens that can internally damage bodily organs.
However, we still recommend integrating both air sealing and insulation as it completely seals hidden leaks before fully insulating the remainder of the space. It’s also important to air seal before installing insulation because the insulation may hide those gaps and make them less accessible.
Additionally, air sealing will block dust and allergens from entering your home. This is largely due to the process of how it’s commonly done: caulking, weatherstripping, and foam.
- Caulking is a material that acts as a waterproof sealant that fills those cracks and gaps.
- Weatherstripping can be in the form of tape, vinyl, or v-strips, and acts as a seal to essentially block dust, air, drafts, or insects from getting inside.
- Foam is used as a sealant that fills those gaps and holes.
Ultimately, air sealing reduces air infiltration through the house that prevents outdoor air pollutants from entering the building at a more certified rate as opposed to insulation.
Air Sealing With Foam Adds Structural Integrity
Due to air leaks and gaps around the house, moisture can build up from condensation that eventually leads to mold or mildew, which can affect the structure’s durability and cause structural damage.
Why foam?
- Sealing areas with foam completely blocks the air movement.
- This directly adds to structural integrity because it significantly reduces air leakage, thus controlling the amount of moisture getting let in.
Air Sealing is Key to Energy Efficiency
To wrap everything up, air sealing significantly reduces air leaks, which can minimize the amount of hot or cold air from leaving or entering your home, therefore producing a more energy efficient home.
Take our Energy Consultant Sean Copas’ word of advice, who emphasizes the importance of air sealing in any home insulation project. “We never want to insulate without air sealing first,” Copas said.
If you need help with air sealing and insulation, or simply want more information regarding the status of your home, contact Josh Lowe’s Dr. Energy Saver at (541) 287-7022 or fill out our contact sheet to talk to one of our experts today!