HOLLYWOOD Blog

Poor Air Sealing Results in Higher Bills and Discomfort in Your Home

Air Sealing Explained

In order to understand the importance of air sealing, you first need to become familiar with your home’s “building envelope”. The building envelope of a structure is the divide between the interior and exterior; the exterior system consists of outer walls, doors, windows, and other areas that access the outside. Its purpose is to improve the climate control capabilities throughout a structure. However, when the building envelope isn’t supported with quality insulation and air sealing, you’re likely to experience irregular temperatures, reduced indoor air quality, and other discomforts because of air leaks.

Openings throughout your building envelope such as cracks, gaps, and holes can occur from weathering, pest infestations, and even general wear. You’ll commonly find these air leaks around window sills and door jambs, but there are many other openings that may get taken for granted. When you don’t have your building envelope and the supporting material regularly evaluated and inspected for damages and air leaks, it’s the equivalent of leaving a window open for the outdoor environment to infiltrate your home.

This is where air sealing comes in to protect and support your home’s building envelope. Using a sealant like caulk or weather stripping, air sealing can reduce air leaks by filling in the holes and gaps throughout the facade of the house. According to The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA), about 90% of homes in the U.S. have insufficient insulation and air sealing, resulting in higher heating and cooling costs and reduced energy efficiency. This is why it’s crucial to have an experienced insulation team evaluate the current condition of your structure if you begin experiencing drafts, cold spots, or irregular temperatures throughout the house.

Reducing Costs By Reducing Air Leaks

When you and your household make an effort to keep your home a safe and comfortable space, you may have some criteria that fall into an "optional" category in order to improve costs. Things like having energy-efficient materials, thorough inspections, and hiring experts over starting a DIY project can all fall to the wayside in order to try to spend less. However, effective air sealing can provide a quality return on investment that allows you to focus on these "optional" areas. With the help of free evaluations from your local experts at Koala Insulation of Hollywood, you can prioritize your schedule and budget without sacrificing other important criteria.

Air leaks can allow for outdoor pollen, dust, and other allergens to creep into the house through the small openings, which can reduce your indoor air quality and even increase health risks. On top of these health hazards, the openings also allow the air in your home to flow without restriction, increasing the risk of irregular temperatures and unwanted heat transfer. Insulation and air sealing work together to reduce the rate of heat transfer, which is how easily heat can enter and exit a building. Your HVAC unit and ventilation system are going to need to work harder in order to improve the climate control within the house, making up for lost warmth in the winter and unwanted heat in the summer. With a sealing building, you can give your heating and cooling system a break while also reducing energy costs and increasing comfort.

Understanding Your Expenses and Savings

In order to understand how updated insulation and air sealing can benefit your home, you and your household can calculate your own savings breakdown. Although it’s recommended to compare your research with a free estimate from a professional walkthrough, it is possible to deduct your own return on investment calculations. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates updated insulation and air sealing saves an average of about 15% on heating and cooling bills, with about 11% on your total energy costs.

However, it’s important to remember that there are a number of factors that can go into breaking down what kind of savings you’ll earn from the new material. In addition to the information on climate zones and the differences between regions in the United States, the EPA has published a guide to the methodology used to determine their savings estimates. Improvements from proper air sealing, upgraded insulation, and building envelope treatment can see an even greater return on investment in older homes built before 1988.

First, you need to know what climate zone your home is located within. For example, Hollywood, Florida is in Zone 1, which is a drastic difference from the rest of Florida which is generally Zone 2. While the EPA estimates your savings will be about 7%, it's important to remember this is because of the differences in "geographic climate factors, regional construction style, and fuel type characteristics." However, the EPA mentions that each home's savings will differ based on the current condition of insulation and air sealing. Everything from your region's weather patterns to the frequent habits of your household can affect the amount of savings you'll see from updated material in your home.

Save More By Starting Now

Koala Insulation of Hollywood is a team of dedicated and trained insulation professionals. Our goal is to help our community by improving the comfort and safety of our neighbors’ homes. By offering free evaluations, we can give you and your household a closer look into the current condition of your home’s insulation and air sealing. With these details, you can make informed decisions to target pain points and focus on crucial areas while also planning ahead for future adjustments. If you’re interested in lowering costs and energy waste, contact Koala Insulation of Hollywood today and schedule your free evaluation.