Saving energy is important for both your budget and the environment. When it comes to home energy efficiency, the attic plays a significant role. An unsealed attic allows heat to escape during winter and enter during summer, which is not good for your bank account nor the planet. Air sealing attic can help maximize your home’s energy efficiency and save you money in the long run.
What is Air Sealing Attic?
Air sealing attic is the process of sealing all the gaps and leaks in your attic’s ceiling, walls, and floor. This step is essential because the attic is often the most significant source of air leaks in many homes. These leaks allow air to enter or exit your home, making your heating and cooling more expensive to operate. Air sealing will help keep the hot or cool air where it belongs—in your living area.
Why You Should Invest in Air Sealing Attic
The primary reason for investing in air sealing attic is for energy efficiency. Saving energy equates to saving money on utility bills. Imagine being able to save up to 20% on your heating and cooling costs. By air sealing attic, you’ll be blocking all the air leaks that compromise your home and be able to reduce the amount of energy you use.
Air sealing attic can also help with the longevity of your home’s insulation, as insulation is only effective when air isn’t passing freely through it. Unsealed attics can lead to ventilation issues, such as humidity and mold damage, which can cause odors and structural damage to your home. In addition, some of the pollutants from your attic can leak into your living space, which can be harmful to your health.
How to Air Seal Your Attic
Air sealing attic is a project that requires some time and effort. Here are the steps you can follow:
- Look for gaps and leaks: Get an inspection to see if your attic and walls have any small gaps that could lead to air leaks. Look for penetrations, such as cables, pipes, ducts, chimneys, and attic access hatches. These should be sealed to prevent leaks.
- Caulk and weatherstrip: These materials can be used to seal air leaks around movable joints, frames, and baseboards.
- Insulation: Add insulation to your attic thoroughly. Make sure every inch of the attic floor is fully covered, and get a reputable insulation contractor that can guarantee the job and the quantity of insulation needed.
- Ventilation: Proper ventilation in the attic is necessary to prevent moisture from accumulating. This will also help to maintain the temperature in your attic.
- Professional help: If you’re not comfortable or don’t know how to seal your attic on your own, it’s best to hire a professional insulation contractor.
Final Thoughts
Air sealing attic is an essential way of improving your home’s energy efficiency while also saving money. You can also get some additional help and information from your local utility company to conduct an energy audit of your home to assess where your home is losing energy. Air sealing your attic will pay itself off in the energy savings you will reap, and it will make your living space much more comfortable. For many homeowners, it’s an investment worth making.
