Air Sealing

Air sealing reduces the uncontrolled movement of air between inside and outside your home. We target visible leaks as well as the hidden nooks and crannies that make up much of the average home's air leakage. Here’s what you can expect:

Attic Air Sealing

Sealing attic air leaks prevents air from bypassing insulation and reduces the stack effect. We target penetrations in the ceiling plane, including attic hatches, lighting fixtures, bath fans, top plates of interior and exterior walls, and plumbing, wiring, and chimney chases.

We use a variety of materials, including high-quality caulk and spray foam for smaller penetrations and leaks (like those along the attic joists at left), rigid foam board for larger penetrations, and metal flashing around chimney chases.  Then we blow in dense-packed cellulose insulation to create a thermal barrier and reinforce the air sealing.

Basement or Crawlspace Air Sealing

Basements are a major source of air infiltration, making basement air sealing one of the most cost-effective improvements you can choose. Sealing basement air leaks goes hand in hand with insulation because spray foam is the ideal material for both. We target rim joists and foundation walls, and install custom-sized bulkhead doors to reduce the stack effect and stabilize basement temperatures. Encapsulation, which involves installing a drainage mat and vapor barrier to control moisture problems, also significantly reduces the stack effect.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a house be too tight?
Does efficiency matter year-round?
Are ice dams a roofing problem?

Related Content

• The Uninsulated Home
• What’s Air Sealing Anyway?
• Building Science Sunday