INCREASE COMFORT AND LOWER BILLS WITH AIR SEALING
Air leakage, or infiltration, is a serious contributor to energy costs and inefficiencies. When warm air is drawn out of your home in winter or into your home in summer, your heating or cooling system is forced to work harder to create comfortable temperatures. The more you can minimize air leaks, the greater your home’s energy efficiency will be.
You may not be aware of how much air leaks into or out of your home. In fact, there are enough air leaks in the typical U.S. home to equal leaving a window wide open for 24 hours a day. Incredibly, infiltration can account for 30% of a home’s heating and cooling costs.
Proper air sealing not only significantly reduces heating and cooling costs, it also improves building durability and creates a healthier, more comfortable indoor environment. Along with insulation, ventilation and moisture control, air sealing is essential to creating an energy-efficient home.
To learn more about air sealing, consult the FAQ below.
Air Sealing FAQ
- How does air sealing work?
- How can I find out if my home has leaks?
- I’m ready to air seal my home. How do I get started?
- What should I keep in mind if I’m hiring a contractor?
- How much will it cost to air seal my home?
- How much money and energy will I save?
- Are there any additional benefits to air sealing?
- What rebates and incentives are available for air sealing?
- Are there any laws or regulations I need to be aware of?
Air sealing prevents the uncontrolled leakage of air by blocking the leaks in your building envelope: the walls, roof, windows and foundation that protect you from the outside environment. If your building envelope is not adequately sealed, you will pay more to heat or cool your home.
The diagram below illustrates common places for air leaks in many homes:
Once leaks have been identified, they can easily be sealed using materials such as caulk, weatherstripping and expanding spray foam.
Air sealing will stop air from uncontrollably entering or leaving your home. Keep in mind that while proper air sealing is essential, your home still needs ventilation to reduce indoor pollutants, moisture and odors. Your home’s ventilation needs should be part of your overall energy efficiency planning.
For more information:
Visit Energy Savers’ air sealing page.
Download the U.S. Department of Energy’s Air Sealing fact sheet.
Learn about air sealing and insulation from ENERGY STAR®.
2. How can I find out if my home has leaks?
In order to properly seal your home, you must first find the leaks. While you may be able to detect some leaks easily (those under external doors and around windows, for example), others are less expected. Leaks can occur at electrical and gas line entrances, in dryer vents, and where cable and phone lines enter your home. Attics, crawlspaces, basements and ducts are also common areas where leaks are found.
Many energy audits from qualified technicians include a blower door test, which depressurizes a home in order to reveal leaks. This is a very effective way to discover air leaks.
If you do not want to get an energy audit, there are techniques you can use to determine if and where there are leaks in your home.
For more information:
Find out how to discover if air leaks are in your home from ENERGY STAR®.
Review Energy Savers’ tips on detecting air leaks.
Determine your home’s ventilation needs before air sealing your home
3. I’m ready to air seal my home. How do I get started?
You can hire a professional contractor to seal your home or you can do it yourself.
If you choose to air seal your home yourself, there are many techniques and materials you can use.
For more information:
Get information on caulking.
Learn about weatherstripping.
Find additional air sealing resources.
4. What should I keep in mind if I’m hiring a contractor?
For general tips, including what to ask a potential contractor, how to compare bids and how to monitor quality, please visit the How to Hire a Contractor page.
For more information:
To search a list of contractors in your area provided by the Better Business Bureau, visit the Energy Action Planner, right on this site.
5. How much will it cost to air seal my home?
Reducing air leakage typically costs less than $200 for the average new home and does not require specialized labor. For existing homes, air sealing can cost between $200 and $3,000 depending on whether an energy audit and duct sealing are included.
6. How much money and energy will I save?
Simply put, air sealing is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve a home’s energy efficiency. In fact, most experts agree that caulking and weatherstripping—two simple air sealing techniques—will pay for themselves in energy savings within one year.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that homeowners can typically save up to 20% of heating and cooling costs and about 10% of total energy costs with proper insulation and air sealing.
7. Are there any additional benefits to air sealing?
In addition to energy and financial savings, proper air sealing has other benefits such as:
- Reducing problems with moisture, noise and dust
- Reducing the entry of pollutants, insects and rodents
- Making your home more comfortable
- Improving building durability
- Creating a healthier indoor environment
8. What financial incentives are available for air sealing?
There are a number of financial incentives and programs for insulation. See the Energy Action Planner for additional information on financial incentives in your area.
9. Are there any laws or regulations I need to be aware of?
Check with your local building department to determine what code requirements may be in place in your area. It is important to ensure that there is enough ventilation in your home. The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineering has set standards for Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. These should be reviewed and followed.
