December 21, 2016

We all try to be, and should be, mindful of our energy consumption. It's not just good for the environment, it can help us save a pretty penny on energy bills. And since the lion's share of energy costs come from heating and cooling, our building envelope should be a point of focus in that conservative effort. Cracks and leaks in the building envelope mean our energy is being wasted heating or cooling the outdoors. So we want to do anything we can to bolster the barrier between those internal and external environments; we want air sealing. 

But while some leaks in the building envelope can be quite apparent (made evident by a nasty draft, perhaps), a majority of them are hidden. One of the most common problems in air sealing efficiency is a result of the 'stack' or 'chimney' effect. Cold or warm air seeps through at the foundation of a house, via subtle, structural flaws, and rises up through the walls and floors, eventually reaching the attic. That unwanted transfer of energy could be a result of poor duct work, an improperly sealed attic floor, or a variety of similar deficiencies (typically it's the combination of a few things). The chimney effect is an issue that Assured Insulation Solutions is keenly aware of, and one that gets close attention from us during air sealing work.

Additionally, air sealing has a pronounced effect on how insulation performs in any given home. An insulation's R-Value, the metric used to measure thermal resistance, doesn't account for faulty air sealing. If there are any cracks or leaks causing air movement over insulation, there's a negative impact on the insulation's R-Value. Considering that, it's easy to imagine air sealing work covering a lot of energy-conserving ground. Homes that undergo significant energy sealing work can benefit from hundreds of dollars in yearly savings, not to mention the level of comfort that comes along with it. 

If you're interested in improving the air sealing in your home, Assured Insulation Solutions would be happy to help. 

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