SOUTHEAST DENVER Blog

How Proper Air Sealing Can Save Your Utility Bill

If you’re unfamiliar with air sealing and how it can affect household comfort and safety, you’re not alone. Energy Star estimates that 9 out of 10 houses in the U.S. are underinsulated; most homes “don’t have enough insulation and have significant air leaks.” When your building doesn’t have proper insulation installation and coverage, you could see a gradual increase in your monthly utility bills and maintenance fees.

Unfortunately, insulation suffers from the “out of sight, out of mind” mentality. While most material doesn’t significantly degrade until about 15 years, it’s not a common practice for homeowners to regularly check the state of their insulation. Problems like moisture exposure, pest infestation, and uneven coverage can all contribute to an earlier deterioration rate. When it comes to air sealing your home, here are the most important aspects to know in order to save you and your household on your monthly bills.

What is Air Sealing?

Air leaks in and out of your home through the building’s “envelope”, which consists of the parts that connect directly with the outside. Windows and doors are the most obvious areas for air to escape, but other openings in your outer walls, the roof, and more can contribute to severe air leakage if not properly sealed. For many unevaluated homes, it’s the equivalent of leaving your doors and windows cracked 24/7.

When an insulation expert is contracted to evaluate your home, the quality of air sealing is a priority on their checklist. Gaps and holes can be left by other contractors like electricians or pest control, but many pain points occur naturally over time because of weathering, natural storms, or unwanted critters. After the walkthrough identifies key problem areas, technicians then go through with sealant to block up the cracks and openings. This reduces leaks, unwanted air movement, and potential entry points for infestation.

Increasing Comfort without Sacrificing Cost

For many homeowners, deciding on various home upgrades can feel like a Pick Two Out Of Three between comfort, safety, and cost. Luckily, air sealing not only has a great return on investment but with a free evaluation of your insulation and sealing quality, you can prioritize pain points with affordable solutions. Upgrading your insulation and updating your home's air sealing saves on your monthly utility bills over time, reduces your carbon footprint with energy-efficient materials, and contributes to improving your home's indoor air quality.

Insulation and air sealing go hand in hand. Where insulation’s main purpose is to slow heat transfer (the rate at which heat enters and escapes a building), air sealing is used to prevent air leaking from larger openings. As mentioned earlier, neglecting cracks and holes in your home is the equivalent of leaving your doors and windows open; this not only allows conditioned air or warmth to leave your building, it can also allow outdoor pollutants to enter. Bacteria, pollen, and other irritants enter through these small openings, decreasing your indoor air quality and potentially increasing health hazards.

This is why having a professional sweep through and methodically air seal your house is important for a number of reasons related to your household's health and comfort. When outdoor air pollutants find their way into these cracks, leading to an increase in allergy symptoms, coughing, sneezing, and potentially irritating respiratory conditions like asthma. Sealing also allows your building to retain the desired temperature, meaning your HVAC system runs less to cool or heat the house.

How to Calculate Your Air Sealing Savings

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that proper air sealing can save about an average of 15% on heating and cooling and 11% on your total energy costs. When it comes to evaluating the exact return on investment that insulation and sealing can provide, Energy Star has a guide to the methodology behind their saving estimates. With improvements from sealed air leaks, additional installation, and covering the building from attic to basement, they estimate that a cost-effective installation can improve more on older homes (typically built from 1970 to 1988).

Air leaks are most commonly found in the attic space, around windows, doors, and other outdoor openings, and throughout the foundation. According to the EPA, focusing on these areas can reduce on average 25% of total air infiltration. With new or additional insulation installed in the attic, floors, walls, and basement or crawl spaces, the R-value is significantly improved; this value measures the effectiveness of reducing heat transfer throughout the building's structure.

Energy Star also provides a breakdown of the continental U.S. climate zones which provides further insight into how much each region can save on annual utility bills. Southeast Denver, specifically, falls into climate zone 5; this region sees a higher than average potential savings with about 12% overall household savings and 16% for heating and cooling. As you look into what can contribute to your monthly savings in bills and maintenance fees, it's important to consider the return on investments over time rather than the immediate cost put into the installation.

Save With Your Local Insulation Expert

Proper air sealing for your building isn’t always as easy as checking for a draft that comes from the cracks around doors and windows. When it comes to making sure your home is comfortable and safe, it’s important to have industry experts evaluating and installing the right insulation. Many homeowners are losing money every month by not having their homes properly insulated and regularly examined.

It’s important to consult the right industry experts to get the job done. At Koala Insulation of Southeast Denver, our team of insulation technicians is available to provide free evaluations on the current state of your home. Because every member of our team is trained and tested on their industry knowledge, we also want to provide the opportunity for you and your household to learn more about keeping your home energy efficient. Contact us for more information on how we can help you save on your monthly utility bills.