Why You Need Overland Park Air Sealing | Koala Insulation

Overland Park Air Sealing 101: Everything You Need To Know

Have you heard about air sealing and ever wondered if it’s right for your home? If you’re experiencing drafts, uneven temperatures from room to room, or feel like your AC and heating systems are running all the time, you can undoubtedly benefit from an Overland Park air sealing service.

Air sealing can drastically improve the energy efficiency of your home, subsequently lowering your energy bills, improving your air quality, reducing moisture buildup, and increasing your overall comfort. Though there’s an upfront cost associated with hiring an expert Kansas City insulation company, this cost pays for itself in no time with the amount you’ll save on utilities month-to-month.

Need more convincing? In this article, you’ll learn all about air sealing in Overland Park, KS, including areas that are prone to leaks, materials used for sealing, benefits of air sealing, the installation process, and calculating the cost of the service. 

What Is Air Sealing?

You may have already surmised that the term ‘air sealing’ refers to sealing air leaks that occur due to cracks and openings in a home. This definition sums it up, but understanding how and why these leaks take place requires a brief look back at material covered in middle school science class. 

When you were in grade school, you learned this important concept—hot air rises and cold air sinks. Understanding why this happens isn’t crucial to our discussion here, but this basic principle explains why heat loss occurs in a home with inadequate air sealing. If your attic is improperly sealed, all that heat your HVAC system is generating during cold Overland Park winters will rise up into your attic and escape out your roof. 

As if escaping heat wasn’t bad enough, the loss of hot air results in pressure changes that cause any cracks and crevices below your attic to suck in cold exterior air. Your HVAC system then has to work harder to heat the inside of your home, which produces more hot air that rises up to the attic, and the whole cycle begins again. As you’ve surely already noted, this process is highly energy inefficient, and this inefficiency makes your monthly utility bills much more expensive than they need to be. 

In addition to the attic, some of the biggest culprits of leaks in your home may include:

• Electrical outlets
• Dryer vents
• Crawl spaces
• Window frames
• Exterior doors
• Chimneys
• Plumbing vents
• Recessed lights
• Wiring holes
• Switch plates
• Baseboards
• Fireplace dampers
• Wall and window AC units
• And more

With so many possible sources of leaks, there’s a good chance that your home isn’t as sealed as it should be. And, while there’s such a thing as too much sealing (which we’ll discuss further below), if your home is older than a decade or two, you can almost guarantee that it could benefit from Overland Park air sealing service. 

Materials Used For Air Sealing in Overland Park, KS

Depending on the area of your home you want to seal, different types of materials can be used. These air barriers fall into three main categories: 

• Weather Stripping: Used to seal cracks and gaps around fixtures and structures that move, such as windows and doors. There are many different types of weather stripping you can purchase, each for a different type of door or window. One of the most important areas to apply weather stripping is around your garage door, which can be a big culprit of uneven temperatures in your home. 
• Caulking: Caulk is used for both aesthetic purposes and sealing. In contrast to weather stripping, caulking is applied to home components that do not move. For example, it may be applied to the joint between your baseboards and wall, or your window pane and sill. 
• Spray Foam: Weatherstripping and caulking are great for small gaps around the home, but for sealing bigger areas, you need to bring in the big guns: spray foam insulation. As both a sealant and an insulation, spray foam is perfect for use in the attic, between walls, and beneath floorboards. 

Benefits of Air Sealing in Overland Park, KS

Improves Energy Efficiency

The cool thing about making your Overland Park home more energy efficient is that it reduces your environmental footprint while also saving you money. By preventing air from escaping from your home and drafts from entering, you can significantly reduce your cooling costs in the summer and heating costs in the winter. 

Air leakage can also cause cold spots in your home during winter, reducing your overall comfort. By improving the energy efficiency of your home, you can enjoy an evenly heated, draft-free living space all winter long. 

Improves Indoor Air Quality

Airflow is important for keeping your indoor air quality high. The problem arises when there is too much airflow, as well as when this airflow isn’t controlled. Too little airflow, and the air in your home will be so stagnant that you run the risk of developing mildew and mold growth. Too much airflow, and you leave your home susceptible to moisture build up, which can also cause mildew and mold to grow. 

Overland Park air sealing experts use their knowledge and training to reach that sweet spot, ensuring that your indoor air quality is optimal. 

The Air Sealing Process

The air sealing process can be split into two main phases: leak inspection and sealant installation. 

Air Leak Inspection

In the leak inspection stage, you’ll want to hire a professional to conduct an energy audit. With an energy audit, you’ll hit a bird with not just two stones, but several stones. An energy auditor will conduct an extremely thorough inspection of your home in Overland Park to determine every way in which your energy efficiency can be improved. Some of the things they’ll look at include:

• Insulation levels in your attic, foundation, walls, and ducts
• Areas with excess moisture and mold
• Efficiency of HVAC system, including your heating system, hot water heater, and AC unit
• Ventilation levels
• Efficiency of appliances
• Thermostat equipment
• Areas with leakage and drafts

During their assessment, they’ll use one or more specialized types of equipment. One of the most popular tests to assess air leakage is the blower door test. To perform this test, energy auditors insert a large, powerful fan into the frame of one of your exterior doors. Once powered on, this fan will suck air outside of your home, causing the interior pressure to drop. 

This pressure change is similar to that which occurs when hot air escapes out of your attic, albeit more intense. Exterior air will flow into your home as a result of this pressure change, and your energy auditor will perform a series of tests to determine areas where air leakage is occurring, as well as your overall air infiltration rate. 

Overland Park Air Sealant Installation

Now that all of your home’s problem areas have been identified, it’s time to seal your home. The easiest place to start is with weather stripping and caulking areas that your energy auditor identified as having drafts. Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to weatherstrip and caulk your doors and windows regardless of whether you have concerns about leaks. Both of these products are very affordable and can be touched up as needed. 

After doing these smaller sealing projects, you’re ready to move on to two more complicated projects—foundation and attic air sealing. Most of the leakage in your home can be attributed to problems with these two areas. A combination of air sealing techniques and insulation is generally recommended for these areas of your home. Foundation sealing requires using an expanding spray foam to fill in all the little cracks and crevices that have formed around your foundation. It’s also often a good idea to seal the area between the top of your basement walls and the ceiling. 

Even more crucial than the foundation is air sealing your attic. Your attic may be home to many different components that are prone to leakage, including:

• Ducts
• Electrical and plumbing work 
• Recessed lighting
• Attic floor joints
• Attic rim joists
• And more

It’s more than likely that your energy audit revealed insulation deficiencies as well. When getting air sealing in Overland Park, your contractor will also likely suggest doing attic insulation upgrades. By using spray foam insulation to block airflow and moisture from collecting in your attic, your new insulation will be much better protected and last longer. 

DIY Overland Park Air Sealing

Many homeowners in Overland Park wonder if they can conduct air sealing without the help of a professional. After all, there’s a cost associated with hiring an energy auditor and an air sealing contractor. If you don’t have to pay for professional services, why should you?

While there are plenty of projects around your home that you can certainly DIY, air sealing is not one of them. Unless you yourself are a trained energy auditor or insulation contractor, your chances of getting the job done correctly are next to none. As discussed above, the goal of sealing is not to prevent airflow entirely, but to achieve the exact amount of airflow needed for optimal indoor air quality and energy efficiency. Striking this perfect balance requires significant experience and expertise. If you try to seal up every gap, crack, or crevice in your home, you risk over-tightening. 

The Problem With Over-Tightening

Some common misconceptions about air sealing can actually be attributed to the result of improper air sealing—over-tightening. When a home is over-tightened, indoor air may be stuffy, cause ventilation problems, and lead to a buildup of excess moisture. When air sealing is done properly, your home will be full of fresh air, have proper ventilation, and resist moisture buildup. 

When assessing your home, a professional insulation and air sealing contractor may recommend getting a vent fan. Solar attic fans can regulate the temperature and airflow in your home without requiring any extra power.  

Cost of Air Sealing in Overland Park, KS

While your comfort is important, most homeowners will be more motivated to invest in air sealing for the cost-saving benefits it offers. Therefore, it makes sense to compare the cost of an Overland Park air sealing service with the amount you can expect to save on your monthly energy bills. 

In truth, estimating your cost savings and service costs can be incredibly challenging without the help of an energy auditor. How much you’ll spend on air sealing depends on how many problem areas you currently have and need to fix, as well as whether or not you need new insulation installed on top of air sealing. If you do need new insulation, the cost of insulation will vary depending on whether you choose fiberglass batts, blown-in fiberglass, blown-in cellulose, or spray foam insulation. 

Additionally, if you find out you’ve had a moisture problem developing in your attic for some time, you may also have a mold and mildew problem, or wood rot. Mold and mildew will need to be dealt with by a remediation company, and areas with wood rot will need to be removed and replaced. If your existing insulation has been contaminated or compromised in some way, you’ll also need to use an insulation removal service before sealing and insulating your attic. 

A reputable Overland Park air sealing and insulation company will offer free evaluations and no-obligation quotes. Take advantage of this service to help budget for this project. Although the upfront cost may seem like an unnecessary expense, remember that by doing the job right the first time, it’ll also be the only time. Additionally, prospective home buyers are willing to pay significantly more for energy efficient homes. Air sealing your home is a project that will undoubtedly give you some degree of return on your investment. 

Start Saving Money on Your Energy Bills with Koala Insulation of South Kansas City’s Professional Air Sealing Service

Are you looking for a reputable and experienced insulation company to conduct air sealing in your Overland Park home? Contact the insulation pros at Koala Insulation of South Kansas City for a free, no-obligation evaluation and estimate today! 

Simply give us a call at 816-929-8255 or fill out our online estimate and information request form, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have or schedule you in for an Overland Park air sealing appointment. We look forward to serving you!