Sealing Air Leakage in

Dr. Energy Saver provides air sealing and testing services in the Iowa area. As one part of the Home Energy Audit we provide to homeowners in the area, we will help you determine the best ways to seal air leaks that exist in your ducts, windows, attic, and elsewhere in the home.

If you've ever left a window open in your home during the winter, you're well aware of how much heat is lost through the opening. On top of that, you're probably braced for the worst when the utility bills arrive, as the furnace has been needlessly using up extra fuel to maintain the temperature.

What many homeowners do not realize is that it's not uncommon for a home to have the equivalent of an open window's worth of air leakage, even when every window is shut tightly.

Air Sealing Contractors in Des Moines

Heat can find its way out of the home through a wide variety of gaps, cracks, and holes in all parts of the house. With our blower door test and home energy audit, we can quantify how much air is leaking out of your house and find the leaks. Dr. Energy Saver can locate and seal air leaks in IA homes. If you're interested in having us diagnose your home with our comprehensive Home Energy Audit and seal air leaks to save you money, call or e-mail us today!

We proudly offer our services in and around Des Moines, Ames, Ankeny, Marshalltown, Newton, Indianola, , , ,, and more!

When Good Air Leaks Out, Bad Air Leaks In!

Understanding the "Stack Effect" - The laws of convection cause warm air in your house to rise up. As it rises, it moves up through the attic, passing through dozens of cracks and openings there. As this air is lost, new air is pulled in from the crawl space, basement, and outside, only to be heated again and lost again. This cycle of air ex-filtrating from the top and infiltrating from the bottom is known as the "stack effect".

Small Air Leaks Mean Big Money! - When houses leak air, you're left continuously paying to heat, cool, and dehumidify air from the outside. Air leaks are an enormous waste of energy, and they make it much more costly to keep your house comfortable.

Dr. Energy Saver says...

Dirt stains on fiberglass insulation are a clear sign of air leakage. It shows that the insulation is filtering the air leakage, and it traps dirt and dust the same way a furnace filter would. If you see dirt-stained insulation, you can be sure that your house is leaking air!

Joints = Air Leaks. How do air leaks form in a home? To begin with, your house is made from thousands of pieces and parts, including nails, wooden boards, framing, electrical wire, wall panels, pipes, and so on. Small gaps exist wherever one part of your house connects to another.

While a joint may be airtight when first installed, that may not always be the case. Wood can shrink, materials can expand and contract at different rates, and connections can come loose. Leakage points can form all over -- ones that should be sealed to save you money.

Contractors Create Air Leaks (They can't help it!)

Air leaks are built into the construction process as your house is being created. As soon as the framing crew finishes their work of nailing together your studs, joists, rafters, sheathing, and beams to create the house shell, a team of other workers march in and begin to cut it apart.

Electricians, HVAC contractors, and plumbers will drill and saw their way through, creating channels for the wires, heating ducts, water lines, and waste pipes that need to be run through the house.

The holes that are created don't compromise your home's strength, but they do result in a network of leakage points that can let air out, and in.

Gaps in your home can be small, such as the ones found around an electrical outlet in an exterior wall. However, large openings are also common, such as the ones created by plumbers in floors and framing as they install pipes, or the long gaps like the one created when a cantilever soffit does not meet the exterior wall in an airtight connection.

Don't Insulate Before Air Sealing!

There are many air leaks where heat from your house can leak out of the house into the attic. If you insulate without air sealing first, the air will just leak right through the insulation! Insulation does not stop air flow! To make matters worse, now all the air leaks are buried underneath all the insulation, making them harder to reach.

Air sealing should always be done before and with insulation! Dr. Energy Saver does both air sealing and insulation.

Common places that need to be sealed:

Sealing Air Leakage Saves Money!

Sealing air leaks that appear in a home's building envelope is a process called "Air Sealing". When applied to a home, it increases the comfort and energy efficiency of the home, while decreasing fuel bills.

However, finding and sealing air leaks is much easier said than done. Locating these air leaks requires special equipment, training, and access to parts of the house a homeowner would generally not be able to (or want to) reach.

Once the sources have been located, it's also important to select the best products and practices to properly air seal these areas.

No more leaks! - For many air sealing tasks, Dr. Energy Saver recommends two-part foam. The mixture leaves the nozzle in liquid form, expanding rapidly to fill and adhere inside cracks and gaps. As it cures, the foam will create a barrier that is both airtight and functional as insulation.

The Payoff to Air Sealing

Most homeowners are excited to see how much energy they'll be saving now that they've had their home air sealed. With Dr. Energy Saver, you won't need to wait to see the difference in energy efficiency in your home.

Dr. Energy Saver technicians can perform a second blower door test when the sealing work is done. The lower leakage rating confirms that you have a more airtight home, with enhanced energy performance, greater comfort, and lasting savings on your heating and cooling bills.

Related Pages

• Insulation

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