Benefits of Air Sealing: Why Every Home Needs It
It is like having your heating on in a cold, frosty Canadian winter and half of it is escaping through the cracks you can not even see. More money is spent on a warm blanket with holes in it. Even a small leak around the windows, doors, attics, and basements might not appear to be a lot; however, when combined, they can silently drain your power and money daily. Natural Resources Canada states that the percentage of a home being leaky to allow heat to escape is up to 2540. That is one great-sized portion of your hard-earned money blown in the wind.
The Benefits of Air Sealing come in here. It is not only about energy saving, it is about living a more convenient, healthier and longer life in a home. Consider air sealing as providing an invisible armour to your house; it keeps out the bad stuff and the good stuff inside. And the best part? When done right, it will be able to give you a payback in the energy savings and comfort every single month.
Understanding Air Leaks: The Hidden Energy Drainers
You have already encountered air leakage, should you ever feel a cold draught under a door, or some hot patch in the summer season, in a part close to a window. These small holes are the little holes as though they are tunnels into which your hot or cold air is pouring out. Even the electrical outlets and all others, the attic, and the basement may be the cunning culprits.
Research indicates that between 20 per cent and a higher percentage of energy that is expended in heating or cooling an average home is wasted through air leaks. It is like purchasing groceries and throwing out one bag in every five bones in the trash, and that is what air leaks do with your energy.
They not only waste your money but also put pressure on your heating and cooling systems, causing them to work harder and wear out quickly. By beginning to seal these leaks, you will cut down on energy wastage automatically, and this will mean fewer bills, and the HVAC system will not be strained.
Common air leak spots:
- Around windows and doors
- Attic hatches
- Basement rim joists
- Ductwork joints
- Switches and electrical sockets.
By addressing these insidious sources of energy wastage, the Benefits of Air Sealing become apparent . You are no longer at the mercy of energy being drained away in the background, but you are in charge of your home energy consumption.
Must Read About: How to Install Fibreglass Insulation: A Step-by-Step Guide
Healthier Indoor Air Quality with Air Sealing
Home is your safe place, yet each smallest crack and hole also allows dust, pollen, car fumes, and other pollutants from the outside world. Gradually, such insidious penetration may render the indoor air less healthy, particularly to individuals with allergies or asthma.
Air sealing not only prevents energy leakage, but it also prevents pathways for allergens, moisture, and pollutants. The Benefits of Air Sealing go well beyond the energy bills, and it has a direct effect on the health of your family. Keeping undesired outdoor air out of your home makes your home a clean and healthier place to be.
Did you know? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says indoor air may be 2-5 times worse than outdoor air. That is a shocking statistic, given that we get to spend up to 90 per cent of our time indoors, in combination with good insulation, air sealing results in a tighter building envelope, i.e., better indoor air quality.
With air sealing:
- Less dust enters your rooms
- Decreased airflow of pollen in allergy seasons.
- Less polluted air filters and more durable HVAC systems.
- Less opportunity for the spores of moulds to creep in.
Once the air in your house stays clean and does not contain any pollutants, you become livelier, get better sleep, and live healthier. It is one of the least known yet life-changing Benefits of Air Sealing.
Read About: Spray Foam Insulation and Air Sealing For Home
Energy Savings and Lower Utility Bills
Energy bills are an everyday occurrence, and to most Canadian households, heating constitutes the highest percentage. The problem? As this is a leakage to the outside, you are paying for electricity that is not used at all at home. It is running the tap and letting half of the water run down before it gets into your glass.
Here, the Advantages of Air Sealing shine brightest. You can block the leaks so that the energy you pay would not go into the drain. The U.S. Department of Energy says that with correct air sealing and insulation, heating and cooling expenses can be reduced 15% or more.
We can simplify it to basic figures:
Assuming that your heating and cooling bill amounts to $2000.00 annually, sealing up the leaks would save you approximately $300.00 annually.
Rather than patching holes that you hardly knew were there, that saves you 3k in the course of 10 years.
Your heating and cooling equipment is also made to last longer with the help of air sealing. When they are not forced to move all the time, they consume less energy and need fewer repairs. That will be twice the savings on your monthly bills and expensive system changes in the future.
Then, when you wanted to be able to reduce the bills and did not want to feel uncomfortable, air leak sealing is a smart and well-tested solution.
Comfort All Year Round
The uneven comfort that results from air leaks is among the most frustrating issues with them. You will find that there is a room in your house that is colder in winter or hotter in summer. This is because air that is conditioned is escaping, and outside air is sneaking in where it is not supposed to.
The Benefits of Air Sealing can be experienced as comfort literally peaking, because of closing gaps. No longer wearing yourself out in the blankets in the one room and sweating in the other. Rather, your house maintains a constant temperature on all floors and in all seasons.
Suppose you were walking on the bare floors in January, and then you felt that icy chill against your feet, or were walking on a summer afternoon, and found one of your rooms like a sauna-house. That is what it is like to be comfortable regularly.
With air sealing, you get:
- Fewer hot and cold spots
- Draft-free living spaces
- Constant indoor temperature throughout the year.
Comfort is not a luxury; it is the entire essence of a home. And when you have closed every fissure of your home with comfort, you will ask how you stood without it.
Protecting Your Home from Moisture and Damage
Comfort and energy are significant, but the health of your home is also important. Air leaks do not simply release the energy, but they also release the moisture. When moisture is able to creep into a wall, an attic, or a crawl space, it will lead to the buildup of mould, rot, and even structural damage.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) claim that one of the most common causes of mould issues in houses is excess interior moisture. Mould not only destroys property, but it can also cause breathing problems and long-term health complications.
The Benefits of Air Sealing in this case are preventative. Leaks are then blocked, and the warm, moist air does not enter cold surfaces in your home. It implies the reduction of condensation, mould, or water damage possibilities. Air sealing, when used with spray foam insulation, provides a barrier to make sure your walls are dry and your home is firm.
Imagine that the leaks are invisible, waterproofing your house. The moisture stays away, and you spare yourself the expensive repairs, and in the long run, your living environment is safer.
Air Sealing as a Long-Term Investment
Air sealing is an investment as opposed to small repairs you can do to the house, which continue to yield. It might require a bit of initial effort, but the payoffs are evident in reduced energy expenditures, reduced maintenance and a healthier environment to live in after a few years.
The other unsuspected Benefit of Air Sealing is that it adds value to your home. It is more energy-conscious among people buying homes today, and a sealed, efficient home is noticeable in the market. Research indicates that energy-saving homes would fetch a high price, as much as 8% higher than other similar homes that were not upgraded.
Air sealing, not just that, but a greener lifestyle is encouraged, also. With reduced energy consumption, your house will have minimised greenhouse gas emissions. It means that you not only save some money, but you also help the environment become cleaner.
Thus, whether you are planning to spend the next few decades at home or are contemplating selling in the near future, the investment will repay in comfort, money and the market value.
How Air Sealing and Spray Foam Work Together
You may be asking yourself- how can you best seal your home? And here is where spray foam insulation comes into the scene. Spray foam not only insulates, but it is also one of the best air seals available in the market.
Spray foam extends when used and flows into the smallest crevices, constituting a close wall against air loss. There is no need to insulate it and air seal it separately. The Benefits of Air Sealing are magnified once again when you talk about using spray foam, since you are dealing with heat flow, drafts, and moisture.
Although the DIY technique, such as caulking or weather-stripping, can be used to seal some minor leaks, professional air sealing is used in order to seal the building envelope of your whole house. This is the reason why many house owners prefer spray foam- it is strong, efficient and can last decades.
Air sealing and spray foam insulation mean that you are establishing your residence to be as efficient, comfortable and healthy as possible.
Read About: How Insulation Makes Your Home Cozier
Conclusion: Unlocking the Benefits of Air Sealing
The Benefits of Air Sealing are many and far beyond what many people imagine might be the case. It is one of those kinds of upgrades in which you are actually going to feel the difference on a daily basis.
Whether saving the well-being of your family, holding the energy bills at a low level or enhancing the value of your property, air sealing is not a simple repair, but a long-term investment in a better life. And when properly done, and in particular, the use of spray foam insulation, then you turn your house into a safe, efficient and comfortable home in the coming years.