Air Sealing: Deter Allergens and Promote Efficiency
Air Sealing: Deter Allergens and Promote Efficiency
If you’re looking for an effective way to both reduce airborne irritants in your home’s air and lower your conditioning bills, consider air sealing. It’s a project that most homeowners can manage, doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, and you’ll be able to tell the difference in both your cooling and heating bills and personal comfort and health.
The following is a do-it-yourself method to locate air leaks: First turn on the kitchen and bathroom exhaust, then close all the windows and open the interior doors. Walk along the inside of your home’s exterior walls with a lighted stick of incense or smoke pencil and watch for the smoke to waver. Do the same along the ceiling underneath the attic. Moving smoke indicates air movement, a good sign of air leakage.
This method will reveal leaks around window frames, exterior doors, electrical outlets on exterior walls, or places where pipes, wires and cables enter the home. The sill plate between the basement and first floor may have air leaks as well. You’ll also likely find where air is moving between your attic and living spaces, a condition that can reduce comfort and raise your energy bills. Seal the smaller leaks with caulk, and use expanding foam for larger gaps. Weatherstripping can be used to seal doors and window sashes.
The attic also may have air leaks, since the vent stacks, chimney or flue may have gaps around them. Going into the attic during the day with a flashlight may help you see larger leaks. Use silicon caulk for air sealing around flues and chimneys. Some ventilation in the attic is necessary for moisture control; you just want to avoid unintended air movement.
If you would like to learn more about air sealing your home to lower your energy bills and reduce the pollen count indoors, please contact us at Powers Heating & Air. We’ve provided quality HVAC services for the Peachtree City area since 2001.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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[…] Sealing air leaks is a great way to ensure your home’s cooling and heating systems remain effective without having to work extra hard to cool or heat your home. For example, sealing leaks ensures cool air stays indoors and the hot air outside during the hot Georgia summer. This will save you money and create a much more comfortable home environment. The best strategy when sealing air leaks is to start big and go down from there: […]
[…] increase. By comparison, rural areas see an increase in natural irritants such as pollen, ragweed, and other allergens. No matter your location, effective air filtering is a must for your home’s indoor air […]