A is for Air sealing. One of the biggest contributors to heat loss is air leaks. These are easy to find with a little investigation. They show up as gaps letting in day light, cobwebs across openings, and dirty fiberglass covering over holes in the attic. From the diagram you can see there are many places that can leak. Just how much savings can be gotten from sealing these up? The estimates are $50-$75 a year for each 100 cubic feet per minute reduction.
How do you air seal? You find the leaks and stop them with spray foam or caulk. For larger gaps it may necessary to use rigid foam sheets or drywall to cover the opening and then seal it up.
WARNING!
It is important to get professional help if you do extensive air sealing. Tightening up the house can cause dangerous, even fatal levels of CARBON MONOXIDE to build up in the house. Professional auditors are trained to test for proper air flow, combustion safety and assess the ventilation needs of the building. Your house has to breathe, but needlessly wasting energy is letting the heat leak out. Tightening the house can result in poor indoor air quality and adversely affect the health of the occupants.
No comments:
Post a Comment