Home Energy Assessment (H1)

Home Energy Assessment (H1)

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimates that the average American household spends about $2060 per year on energy costs. You probably could be paying more than that, and with the concerns of high energy costs, the one thing you can control is reducing the amount of energy your home uses. Your first step is conducting a home energy assessment.

    How to assess your home’s energy efficiency (H3)

A home energy assessment is an audit on your current energy consumption, where you lose energy most and measures you can take to make your home more energy efficient. There are two ways to approach it. You can do it by yourself or use the services of a Miami insulation company. The process takes about 35 minutes to four hours, depending on the size. If you chose to do to it on your own then the procedure to follow is;

1. Locate and seal air leaks

Start by finding air leaks in your home, starting with the obvious ones inside and outside the house. You want to check at the flooring edge, the windows, doors, plumbing, and lighting fixtures, among others. Use the appropriate material to seal the holes and any openings, and this can help you save 10 to 20 percent of your energy costs annually.

2. Check the ventilation

In the course of sealing the leaks take care to keep enough ventilation in the room to avoid back-drafting and internal air pollution.

3. Check insulation

Your house could also be losing energy due to outdated or a lack of insulation. A Miami insulation company can help you determine whether your current insulation meets the present recommended standards and areas that may require more fortifying.

4. Inspect heating and cooling equipment

Inspect your heating and cooling equipment to ensure there are no air leaks, and if the application is more than fifteen years old, consider replacing it with more energy-efficient units.

5. Lighting

Since lighting accounts for about 10% of your energy expenditure, consider using more energy-saving bulbs and use mechanisms like dimmers and sensors to control usage. You could also earn rebates for such solutions.

6. Appliances and electronics

Examine your devices to ensure they all have an energy star rating and ensure you do not leave yourself exposed to phantom loads by always unplugging them when they are not in use.

Five ways to check your home for costly air leaks(H3)

While hiring a Miami insulation company will allow you to check for air leaks more comprehensively and using the latest technology, you can also check for them using simple methods discussed below.

1. Visual inspection

A visual inspection is a straightforward method and involves checking for cracks and gaps in your home. You should inspect door and window frames, electrical outlets, attic hatches, fire dampers, utility service entrances, among other prominent areas.

2. Dollar bill test

A dollar bill test is a simple way to check if the space between your windows and doors is leaking air substantially. If you shut the door or window and you can easily pull the dollar bill out, then you have air leak problems to address.

3. Flashlight test

The flashlight test is excellent for checking larger cracks in suspected areas. At night have someone outside while you shine the flashlight around the regions. If there are cracks, they will be seen out as light rays.

4. Depressurize your home

Depressurizing your home is a test aiming to increase infiltration in your home so that detecting air leaks even through small cracks is possible. After following the right procedure, you use an incense stick to track the leak points.

5. Hand test

A hand test is another straightforward method to use when inspecting where the air is leaking in your house. This test has to be done when it is cold outside, and when you have turned on the heat inside the home near the specific areas you want to inspect.

Common Air Leaks in Homes (H2)

The DIY air leak inspection tips help when you have an idea of where air leaks are prone. Here are the three locations to start your inspection.

Attic Air Leak Sources (H3) – https://www.pippinbrothers.com/blog/common-sources-air-leaks

The attic is always the first place to check, and often the Miami insulation company will start the house survey here too. The attic has multiple sources of air leaks, including the following major ones.

Attic Hatch Air Leaks (H4)

The attic hatch is where the attic meets the rest of your house. While it is crucial to maintain this access, it should be treated to reduce air loss.

Cold Air Coming From Recessed Light (H4)

Recessed lights are great aesthetically, but they come with the challenge of air leakage.  You correct this issue by treating each light with sealing and insulation.

Wind Washing Air Leak (H4)

Wind washing results in energy loss by diminishing the intended thermal performance of the house. Unconditioned air leaks through soffit vents and spaces between the wall of the house and the attic’s porch. The use of baffles and air seals can help manage such leaks.

Wall Chase Air Leak (H4)

While wall chases are installed to improve airflow, when they are without the right air seals at the point of contact with the attic, they become a source of significant air leakage. Using a Miami insulation company when doing maintenance or setting up such features helps you prevent the problem early.

Supply Air Duct Leak (H4)

Supply air duct leaks happen when the conditioned air from the AC unit or the furnace leaks out, decreasing the amount of air getting to the desired rooms. This state results in overworking the AC or the heater incurring more energy bills.

Supply Air Leak to Wall Cavity (H4)

Air to and from your conditioning unit could also be lost through cavities and openings in your wall. It hampers the efficiency of the appliance while bringing in unconditioned air doubling the workload and increasing energy costs. The best way to solve these is by using aerosol-based mastic, which should be handled by a trained Miami insulation company contractor.

Garage Door Leaks Air on Sides (H3)

Garage doors are another significant area where the air leaks happen at home, especially if you are heating the garage area and use it for other functions. The main culprit here is the space left around the sides and the top of the garage door. Weatherstripping the garage door usually solves this problem, and you have an array of material to use for the purpose, including vinyl and wood panels.

Cold Air from Coming in Dryer Vent (H3)

A leaking dryer vent can cause other problems, including mildew, molds, and water damage to your home. The leading causes of leaks in this section are blockage, holes and cracks, condensation, where the vent exhausts into, and broken flappers on the outer opening. If you have a significant problem here, then you need to consult a Miami insulation company. The work may be extensive, requiring outside sealing and insulations, proper ductwork, and where applicable changing the location where the vent exhausts from either the garage or attic to outside.

Preventing Home Air Leaks (H2)

As with every challenge and problem at home, prevention is cost-effective, more comfortable, and less strenuous. Weatherstripping and sealing your windows and doorways is the first step in preventing air loss in and out of the house. You also need to conduct extensive insulation around the house and rooms where you use most and need plenty of air conditioning.

Finding Air Leaks in Log Home Walls (H4)

The first step is to know how to locate air leaks. In a log home, winter presents the best time to search, especially when the temperatures outside are 20 degrees colder. The cold allows you to trace the areas using your hand since you can feel the cold as evidence of a leak.

You can start by using the warm water method, which involves you walking around the house, specifically in locations you suspect to have leaks. You dip your hand in the warm water and hold it about six inches from the interior walls and slowly move the hand across. You will be able to feel any cold leaks and mark the area for treating later.

You can also use a box fan by turning it into an exhaust fan to blow air outwards. It works great when looking for leaks in doors and windows as it draws cold air in, and you can mark the spots and mark them for repair.

Best Way to Detect Air Leaks in Home (H4)

You may already have an idea of how to detect air leaks in your home using simple methods like a flashlight and smoke. However, such approaches may only cover large air leaks and will also consume time going around the whole house. Using a device to detect air leaks in home environments is a more practical option. With a home air leak detector, you do not need to have an idea of where the leak is coming from since you can cover the whole house in a short time.

A Miami insulation company is well equipped with such devices given how costly some of them can be. However, you can always find one within your budget. The best tools for air leak detection are;

• A blower door test fan that works by depressurizing your home and checking to see if any air from outside comes inside. If it does, then there are air leaks in your house
• Get an infrared camera or a thermal imaging camera. It is the easiest device to use, and it is accurate, allowing you to locate air leaks in different house sections.
• A smoke pen is a convenient alternative to using incense. It releases dense smoke that can be used to detect where drafts and cavities are in the house.

Device to Detect Air Leaks in Home (H5)

Home Air Leak Detector (H5)

How to Fix Air Leaks in Your Home (H4)

Fixing air leaks in your home entails three approaches, which depend on the location and surface of the leaks. Most of the time, doors and windows need weather stripping. Sealants can solve cracks and other openings, and insulation is applied to electrical outlets, ductwork, and attic. Some tips to fix air leaks in your home include;

• Use foam on electric outlets and switch plates on the wall
• Replace single-pane windows with double panel ones or cover them using storm windows
• Tightly close the fireplace flue damper when it is not in use
• Seal air leaks around furnaces, water heater vents and fireplace chimneys with fire-resistant materials.
• Use caulk to seal areas in the walls and roofs where wiring, ducting, and plumping comes into the house.
• Use foam sealant for larger gaps in areas like windows and baseboards.

How to Stop Leak for Home Air Conditioner (H4)

Leaks in an air conditioner usually occur in three places on the HVAC. These places are the cover panels, the pipe entrance, and the insertion point. Fixing the leaks in an air conditioner depends on the scale of the issue. A Miami insulation company handles complex and widespread leakage better. If it is on a small scale here is what to do;

• Start by fastening any loose panels
• Straighten any broken panels and ensure the lids fit in properly
• Use perma-gum or mastic to plug leaks if you can locate the leaks
• Secure the insulation in place tightly behind the panels.

Benefits of Home Air Leak Prevention (H2)

Preventing air leaks offers you both economical and health benefits. Here are the reasons why you should prioritize home air leak prevention.

Improve Indoor Air Quality (H3)

While outdoor air is central to refreshing the quality, when it comes through unregulated vents, it comes with allergens, dust, and moisture, which reduces the quality of air in the house. Drafts from outside cause mildew and molds and create a stuffy atmosphere in your home.

Well Adjusted Average House Temperature (H3)

Air leaks create an imbalance in the house temperature. They bring in unconditioned air from outside while stealing away the conditioned air. Therefore some rooms are cold while the rest are warm, creating a distorted average house temperature.

Attic insulation energy savings (H3)

According to the department of energy, homeowners can save from ten to fifty percent of their heating bills by having the proper attic installation. A Miami insulation company does a comprehensive assessment of your attic insulation, including the material. It helps you determine what measures you can employ to improve energy efficiency.

Attic Air Sealing Services (H2)

You can handle several home air sealing tasks. However, for a thorough job, especially if this is the first time you are assessing your home’s energy efficiency, a Miami insulation company will serve you better. The question usually is the matter of costs and where to find contractors near you.

Cost to Air Seal and Insulate Attic (H3)

The attic is an essential section in your efforts to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Sealing and insulating the attic is dependent on many factors. The first one is size with bigger attics costing more because of the space that needs to be covered. The amount of existing insulation is also another determinant. The lower the existing insulation, the more you will have to pay. If your attic makes sealing more complicated by having a variety of fixtures like ductwork, bathroom fan ventilation, knee walls, etc., it will cost you more. Other extra costs like decorations and setting up access can easily add up to the final total price.

Air Sealing Contractors Near Me (H3)

Finding the right contractor is the next step when you decide to insulate your home against air leaks. The internet offers a wide range of resources to find the right Miami insulating company for your project. Pick several near you to save transportation being factored in your cost and to allow for fast on-site estimates. Ensure estimates cover every aspect of sealing and insulation you want in your home. Pick a contractor with clients or projects in your neighborhoods and one with all the necessary licensing, insurance, and equipment. Consider their experience and where appropriate, get referrals and testimonials from past clients with similar projects as yours.

Attic Air Sealing FAQs (H2)

To help you with further issues regarding attic air sealing here are some FAQ

Where is the Largest Area of Air Leaks in Homes? (H3)

The primary sources of air leaks in homes are the attic, the foundation, and the basement.

Will Air Sealing Make Much of a Difference in Heating a Home? (H3)

Yes, it will. Air leakage accounts for 25-40% of the energy you use in heating and cooling your home. It also reduces the effectiveness of methods like insulation and energy-efficient windows.

Is Air Sealing the Attic Worth It? (H3)

Yes. The energy department observes that insulating your attic saves about 30 percent of the money spent on energy costs. Better yet, it takes about under a year of your attic insulation costs to pay themselves.

What Spray Foam Should I Use for Air Sealing an Attic? (H3)

In terms of density and R-value alone, closed-cell spray foam offers the best advantages. Open-cell spray foam, on the other hand, is less costly and expands more, making it suitable in tight and hard to reach spots. In most cases, closed-cell spray foam offers better value. A Miami insulation company would advise you o the best spray foam to use.

Should the attic Over my Garage be Sealed off From the Attic Over the House to Save Air Conditioning? (H3)

If you are not extending your air conditioning to the garage, then yes, sealing off the garage attic prevents the unconditioned air from the garage getting into the house’s attic.

Can One Seal Caulking Around Copper Pipe of Attic Unit of Air Conditioning? (H3)

Yes. However, you have to use the right material for caulking metals, especially copper. Silicone caulking is usually preferred though, in some instances, butyl rubber works just as well.

Should the Stud Cavities be Blocked on the Gable End of House for Air Sealing Attic? (H3)

Blocking stud cavities helps prevent another extra space through which unconditioned air gets in the attic.

Should I Air Seal the Basement First or the Attic? (H3)

Start with the attic first when air sealing your home. It is the space with the biggest thermal bypasses. The guiding principle in air sealing is to start with the bigger holes first.

Can Air Sealing Your Home Cause Foundation Issues? (H3)

Air sealing your home does not cause foundation issues. On the contrary, it helps you protect your foundation from the adverse effects of moisture.

Does a Sealed Attic Require an Air Exchanger? (H3)

Yes. An air exchanger I crucial in the ventilation of a sealed attic aiding in the removal of the warm damp air and preventing the accumulation of moisture and mildew in the attic.

What More Can I Do to Make the Air Sealing and Insulation in My Home Right?

You can only know what extra steps to take after conducting a thorough home energy assessment, preferably performed by a Miami insulation company.

How Much Does it Cost to Air Seal Your Home? (H3)

Air sealing your home costs largely depends on the areas you want to cover, the size of your home, whether you will hire a contractor or do it on your own, the type of material you need for insulation, and much more. A site estimation is the best way to get an idea of how much it will cost you.

How Much Does Attic Air Sealing Cost? (H3)

Attic air sealing can be quite costly if you have a range of fixtures, ductwork, plumbing, and wiring that will need to be fixed. It is even higher if you decide to do it with insulation. The more cavities and spaces lead into the attic, the more the area that needs plumbing. It also depends on the material used for sealing as well as the size of the attic.

Who Do You Hire to Air Seal and Pest Seal our Home? (H3)

Hiring a qualified Miami insulation company will help you solve all your sealing and insulation home needs.