Olathe Air Sealing Service: How Do You Know You Need It?

A Homeowner’s Guide: How To Tell Your Home Needs Olathe Air Sealing Services

Did you notice a spike in your monthly energy costs even though your heating system and insulation in Olathe are performing well? It’s not always easy to detect the underlying issue until you’ve had a certified professional complete an energy audit, during which they literally measure every piece of equipment that contributes to your home’s energy consumption, from your HVAC system to your entire building envelope, including your attic and wall insulation, roof performance, and foundation. But how to know you actually need Olathe air sealing services?

 

Our highly skilled Olathe insulation professionals at Koala Insulation bring an average of 15 years of experience working in construction and the home service sector. Our certified technicians possess an extensive knowledge of Koala Insulation’s high-quality products and provide guaranteed workmanship to get any installation job and repairs done correctly and efficiently.

 

Our team put together this homeowner’s guide to help locate areas in homes that may need professional Olathe air sealing services.

How Do You Know You Need Olathe Air Sealing Services?

Sometimes, it’s easy to detect air leaks, and you’ll know the type of sealing work that needs to be done. Let’s say your reading chair or desk is situated right next to the window and as the weather begins to cool, you suddenly start to notice a cold draft brushing by. Or perhaps your entryway feels colder than usual, although no one has been coming in or going out of the house.

 

Some common tricks that Olathe homeowners use for air leak detection include the building pressurization test, during which you turn off all your gas appliances to depressurize your house and shut all your windows. Next, you light incense candles and pass them around areas where you suspect air leakage. When the smoke is either blown into the room or sucked out, we recommend marking that area for treatment. But then again, how often do you check your attic, behind your baseboards or electrical outlets that connect to the outside?

 

If you want to check for yourself, we recommend the following types of inspections that you can perform.

 

Visually inspect:

 

• Attic walls and ceiling, vent stacks, and attic hatch
• Condition of attic insulation (Is it old, dirty or damaged? Improperly installed attic insulation can quickly deteriorate in performance.)
• Basement walls and vents
• Window and door casings
• Crawl spaces
• Duct registers
• Dryer vent
• Recessed lights
• Outdoor faucets
• Kitchen exhaust hoods
• Old weather stripping
• Exterior walls and foundation
• Garages
• Fireplaces

 

There’s always a chance that electricians, technicians or whoever has done work on your home in Olathe didn’t properly seal gaps and holes around switch plates, electrical outlets and plumbing pipes or the sealant used has worn out.

 

When you hire your local experts at Koala Insulation, we’ll bring our professional ultrasonic acoustic detectors and quickly check all the common areas, including hard-to-reach spots. The sooner we treat them, the sooner we can help recover your indoor comfort. With our expert Olathe air sealing technicians, your energy bills won’t get out of control.

How Does Air Sealing in Olathe, KS Work?

There are various methods our Olathe air sealing technicians use to weatherproof homes efficiently.

Caulking

Caulk is used to seal joint areas and is also ideal to seal air leakage caused by gaps and cracks. While it has reliable adhesion to various materials (i.e., drywall, concrete, aluminum, and wood), it is not a permanent sealant. In fact, its effectiveness depends on a number of variables, such as the type and quality of your chosen caulk. Acrylic latex and polyurethane are popular types, but they can be sensitive to high-moisture conditions and fluctuating temperatures. 

 

As soon as a caulk line begins to peel and dislocate within a year or two, you’ll have to scrape it off and reapply a new bead. We often recommend using high-quality silicone caulk, which, when applied correctly, can last you for up to five years.

Weather Stripping

Where caulk won’t work, you need weather stripping tape. Weather stripping is one of the most popular methods of air sealing in Olathe, KS homes and is commonly applied to front and back doors or around windows joints.

 

Foam tapes are very effective when installed properly but of course, they tend to wear out fast too because doors and windows are used on a regular basis. As long as you remember to switch them out at least once a year (it’s recommended to do that in the winter), you should reap most of their benefits. This is by far the most cost-effective and DIY-friendly method of sealing

Spray Foam

When you’re looking for something more reliable and long-lasting, spray foam is your best option for creating an airtight seal. Not only is it the best product to use for home insulation, but it’s also the best for air sealing in Olathe, KS.

 

Note: It’s important to note that some gaps are intentional to allow moisture to escape and, therefore, they shouldn’t be sealed. Otherwise, you could risk blocking essential ventilation. When in doubt, always consult a professional for a proper inspection.

How Olathe Air Sealing Is Done The Koala Way

We have noticed that many people talk about air sealing their attic access instead of the attic itself. But severe drafts in the attic are an indication of poorly installed or outdated attic insulation. Furthermore, the air sealing products that uncertified contractors have used just won’t last without having to re-apply them again and again. Also, rather than insulating your attic hatch, we highly recommend a more thorough insulation inspection first, followed by proper Olathe air sealing services.

 

When you hire our Olathe air sealing team, we will take our time to inspect your attic in detail before offering you custom solutions that are proven to last. Furthermore, the first thing we’ll check is your insulation to see if it’s due for a replacement. If it has become ineffective for thermal resistance, air leakage throughout is inevitable. We’ll propose an old insulation removal service followed by an upgrade. You may choose from fiberglass batt insulation, blown-in cellulose or fiberglass, and spray foam insulation. 

 

For the best results, we typically complete Olathe air sealing services first before moving on to your new attic insulation installation. It usually facilitates the air leak detection process, so our technicians can quickly seal holes and gaps effectively before moving on to the insulation installation. 

FAQs About Air Sealing in Olathe, KS

Why Is Air Sealing in Olathe, KS Important?

Proper home insulation helps back your HVAC system and vice versa. But both systems could suffer in the event of an air leakage because not only does it let in cold weather drafts, but it also makes your home’s interior susceptible to moisture damage. Therefore, it serves as an air barrier and vapor barrier that blocks the elements from entering your house via walls and ceilings.

 

So besides saving money on your utility bills and protecting your indoor systems and materials, you’ll also benefit from increased comfort and stable indoor temperatures and indoor air quality.

How Do I Best Prevent Nasty Air Leaks At Home in Olathe?

We recommend that you seasonally check your window joints, door cases, and thresholds for potential air leaks. Are caulk beads worn out? Are there cracks and holes in your wooden frames? Replacing your weather stripping every year will minimize drafts and also back up your windows and doors’ efficiency in keeping elements out. If your doors and windows are old or severely weather-damaged, you may want to consider replacing them to recover your energy efficiency.

 

Set a reminder of when your attic and wall insulation is due for renewal. Although fiberglass batts and blown-in systems are supposed to last you for over a decade or longer, it highly depends on your climate, the age of your house, and how well you maintain the systems on your property. For example, how often do you clean your gutters? Do you pay attention to ventilation in your attic?

 

Overall, the best way to prevent air leaks is to ensure you have efficient home insulation from the bottom up. Ensure your home in Olathe has sufficient ventilation and insulation in the basement and attic and that any gaps, holes, and cracks are well-sealed, unless they are there for a reason.

 

When unsure, our team recommends booking an energy audit, during which every system in your home is tested for its energy consumption level. 

Why Would Homeowners Want to Air Seal Their Home? Especially Alongside Upgrading Insulation?

Insulation installation and air sealing in Olathe, KS go hand-in-hand. One job is not completely done without the other. For example when upgrading your attic and wall insulation, it’s crucial to pay attention to surrounding systems, including your windows, doors, and even your baseboard systems where your walls meet your flooring installation. There will always be a gap, connecting to the exterior. To ensure all the systems in your home are energy efficient and functioning, air sealing is a crucial component to your insulation upgrade

Can Olathe Air Sealing Services Increase Home Value?

Absolutely! Energy efficiency is a huge priority among homebuyers. They know that insulation upgrades can be a huge investment. But if you have, for instance, invested in brand-new spray foam insulation and air sealing services for your Olathe property, your ROI will increase. The National Association of Homebuilders have found that property buyers were willing to pay an additional $9000 upfront if they can save up to $1000 on utilities every year.

Can I Air Seal My House Myself?

You certainly can as long as you know exactly what the problems are and have a professional confirm that your home isn’t suffering from any other underlying issues. Although air sealing techniques are best applied by the hands of professionals, general weather stripping and caulking jobs around windows and doors can certainly help prevent air leakage around your home. 

 

But before you move over to air sealing crawl spaces and or other uninhabitable spaces in your basement, it’s worth having a certified expert inspect those areas. Sometimes, crawl spaces are designed to ventilate, whereas some should be properly air sealed to prevent exterior moisture from seeping into your home. In specific areas, like your basement or attic, it’s not always easy to determine whether you require insulation or air sealing. Olathe, KS technicians suggest that your best course of action is to schedule a detailed inspection. After that, you’ll be able to tell what you can do by yourself and what needs to be completed by a certified professional.

What Is The Stack Effect?

The stack effect describes how heated air rises through the attic and causes exterior air to be pulled into your home via windows or doors. This highly increases airflow and can turn air leaks into a problem. With Olathe air sealing services, you can control these entry and exit areas by sealing gaps responsible for this effect. These gaps could be in your ceiling, wall or joint areas and aren’t always visible. These leakage points are by far the hardest for Olathe homeowners to detect. 

Call Koala Insulation For Olathe Air Sealing Today!

If you can hear the hissing sounds of strong winds inside your home or feel cold air leaking through your attic hatch, you’re not only affected by discomfort, but your HVAC and insulation systems are also suffering. When you hire our Olathe air sealing professionals, they will go the extra mile to check your home’s overall insulation and make the best recommendations to keep you and your family safe.

 

To schedule professional Olathe air sealing service, we invite you to give our Koala team a call today at 913-348-7789. We serve our local community in Olathe and nearby neighbors in the Kansas City Area.

 

While you’re here, why not learn about the other ways that Koala Insulation can help you meet your energy efficiency goals with services for attic fans and many different types of insulation, including blown-in insulation, batt insulation, and spray foam insulation.