Because of our humidity, temperature swings, and vented attics/crawl spaces, air leakage causes:

1. High Energy Bills

Your HVAC is constantly reheating or re-cooling air that escapes through the attic and crawl space.

2. Comfort Issues

Drafts, cold floors, and hot ceilings are all symptoms of uncontrolled airflow.

3. Moisture and Mold Problems

Warm, humid air hitting cold surfaces creates condensation—in attics, ductwork, and crawl spaces.

4. Air Quality and Health

When it comes to attics and especially crawl spaces in Middle TN, w do not want to be breathing air up or down there. All that exposed building material which could have been “treated” for and with a wide variety of things during construction. Especially if you have an older home, now banned pesticides were used in a lot of crawl spaces. Even if properly encapsulated, we wouldn’t suggest eating dinner or sleeping down there. So let’s limit as much of air flow into your living space.

5. Reduced Insulation Performance

Even brand-new insulation underperforms when air is leaking through or around it.

This is why so many Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Antioch, Mt Juliet, Nolensville and Spring Hill homes built to “code” still feel uncomfortable—the code simply doesn’t require air sealing in many of the areas that matter most.

Air Sealing the Attic: The First Priority

Your attic is the largest air leakage point in your home.
Warm air rises (stack effect), and without sealing, it escapes through every opening it can find.

Common attic leaks include:

• Can lights
• Attic access doors
• Top plate gaps
• Plumbing penetrations
• Duct boots
• Open soffits
• Chases & voids behind knee walls

Not sealing these areas is like leaving a window open in your attic all year.

This is one of the main reasons homeowners call us in winter.

Rooms are cold.
Ceilings feel chilly.
HVAC systems run nonstop.
And most people assume they need more insulation—but often, the real problem is air leakage.

Air Sealing the Crawl Space: The Hidden Draft Source

Your crawl space is the #2 source of air leaks.
Cold winter air enters through vents or gaps and rushes up through:

• Rim joists
• Subfloor cracks
• Plumbing openings
• Duct boots
• Wire penetrations

This leads to:

• Cold floors
• Musty smells
• Moisture problems
• Poor air quality

Much of the air you breathe comes directly from the crawl space. Air sealing this area dramatically improves comfort and health.

Why It’s Crazy This Isn’t Required by Code

We see it every day:
Brand new homes—$600k, $800k, even million-dollar builds—constructed with zero meaningful air sealing in attic or crawl space.

Inspectors sign off.
The home “passes code.”

But code is the bare minimum, and in Tennessee, it does not require air sealing in many areas that massively impact comfort and energy efficiency.

At Koala Insulation of Nashville, we believe air sealing should be mandatory, not optional. It makes that big of a difference.

And Yes—TVA Gives Cash Rebates for Air Sealing

Because air sealing is so effective, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) offers cash rebates to homeowners in Davidson County, Williamson County, Rutherford and Wilson Counties who get professional air sealing and insulation upgrades.

Koala Insulation of Nashville is a Top TVA Partner, which means:

• We handle the rebate process for you
• You get guaranteed savings
• Your upgrade is performed to TVA’s strict standards
• You get documentation showing your home is more efficient

This puts money back in your pocket while making your home more comfortable.

Air Sealing + Insulation = Perfect Home Performance

Air sealing makes insulation work the way it was intended.

Without air sealing:
❌ insulation loses R-value
❌ rooms stay drafty
❌ moisture issues continue
❌ energy bills stay high

With air sealing:
✔ insulation performs at full R-value
✔ you feel immediate comfort improvements
✔ HVAC usage drops significantly
✔ indoor air becomes cleaner and healthier

This is why every attic and crawl space should be air sealed before insulating.

Get a Free Air Sealing Evaluation (Plus TVA Rebates)

If your home feels drafty, uncomfortable, or expensive to heat and cool, air sealing is almost always part of the solution.

👉 Book your free evaluation:
Book Free Evaluation Here

👉 Learn more about us:
https://koalainsulation.com/nashville

Koala Insulation of Nashville takes a consultative approach. We explain exactly why your home feels the way it does—and how air sealing and insulation can fix the problem long-term.