NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA Blog

What is Air Leakage and Why Does it Matter? | Koala Insulation of Nort

We expect our homes to be our great protectors, offering shelter from strong storms and keeping us cozy when the temperature plummets. While this is true the majority of the time, minor issues like gaps or cracks in your home can lead to serious issues over time and can impact your ability to live comfortably. Air leaks are a sneaky home problem that impacts thousands of our community members every day.

Is your home suffering from drafts? We explain more about the impact of air leakage below.

What Causes Air Leaks?

Homes are specifically designed to move your conditioned air throughout your house in a controlled and predictable manner. When you turn on your heat or air, you expect your home to adjust temperature accordingly. However, if you lack proper insulation or if your home has any sort of gap or crack that leads to the outdoors, this process is not able to function the way it should.

Unconditioned external air can easily sneak into your home through these gaps and will impact your HVAC system and your room temperature really easily. You can experience rooms that are always too hot or too cold, and you can even struggle with humidity or moisture problems as a result of this unconditioned air. Over time, this problem can lead to structural damage, mold growth or even the introduction of pests like mice or bats.

Understanding Leaks

If your home has air leakage happening, there is a good chance that your home is also giving off signs that something is amiss. Your HVAC system will most likely be running more frequently, your rooms will be uncomfortable and your energy bills will suffer as a result! Tracking down a draft can sometimes be easy and you can tackle the fix on your own. If a window or door casing is the culprit, grab your caulking gun or some weatherstripping and re-seal any gaps that you see. You should also go from room to room to check unsuspecting places for air movement, like around wiring holes or outlets. Even the tiniest of holes or cracks can lead to significant temperature control issues.

When to Call For Help

While a good DIY project can be fulfilling to any homeowner, it is also important to know when to call it quits and call a professional. If you can’t figure out the true source of your leak or if you are struggling with drafts in multiple areas of your home, give Koala a call. Our team can come out to your house to perform an evaluation of your insulation’s performance. Our thermal cameras can detect energy loss throughout your house and we can determine if you are in need of an insulation upgrade or if air sealing specific spots will do!

Either way, we have the tools and proper training to make sure your home is sealed safely against the elements. Once we are through, you will be able to enjoy a warmer home, lowered energy bills and more restful sleep knowing that your home is running efficiently once again. Don’t ignore your draft issue! Call Koala Insulation of Northwest Pennsylvania today.