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Air Sealing Service in
Cleveland, Ohio
Seal air leaks and save energy!
What is Air
Leakage?
Air leakage, or infiltration, is outside air
that enters a house uncontrollably through
cracks and openings. During cold weather
heated air can easily exit the house through
openings in walls that are connected to the
attic. Cold air then enters through openings
in lower levels of the home to replace the
air that is lost. This air must then be
reheated, increasing utility bills. This air
movement is the cause of uncomfortable
drafts, Mold , Ice Damming and polluted
indoor air.
During the summer months the Hot attic air
enters the home through the same holes
bringing in moisture, dust and insulation
fibers causing the Air Conditioner to work
harder and Electric bills to increase. This
is part of the reason that upper floors are
warmer during the summer, other reasons are
Leaky Ducts and insufficient insulation.
The recommended strategy in both new and old
homes is to reduce air leakage as much as
possible and to provide controlled
ventilation as needed. For simple house
designs, effective spot ventilation, such as
kitchen and bath fans that exhaust to the
outside, may be adequate. For more complex
houses or ones in colder climates, whole
house ventilation systems may be
appropriate. Such systems may incorporate
heat recovery, moisture control, or air
filtering.
What are the
Benefits of Air Sealing?
Air infiltration can account for 30 percent
or more of a home’s heating and cooling
costs and contribute to problems with
moisture, noise, dust, and the entry of
pollutants, insects, and rodents. Reducing
infiltration can significantly cut annual
heating and cooling costs, improve building
durability, and create a healthier indoor
environment. The size of heating and cooling
equipment can also be decreased, which saves
additional dollars
What is an Air
Barrier?
The ceilings, walls, and floor/foundation
that separate the inside conditioned space
from the outside or unconditioned space form
the air barrier and the insulation barrier
for a house. These two barriers differ by
the materials used.
For most homes, the sheet goods that form
the ceilings, walls, and floor (such as
drywall, sheathing, and decking) are
effective at stopping air leakage. It is
critical to seal all holes and seams between
these sheet goods with durable caulks,
gaskets, and foam sealants to create a
continuous air barrier. Other common leaks
include plumbing and electrical
penetrations, recessed lights, chimney
penetrations and poor framing practices. The
insulation barrier is usually made up of
standard insulating materials, such as batt
or loose fill products, that do not seal
against air leakage.
Diagnostic
Tools
The only effective way to test the “Air
Tightness” of a home is with a special fan
called a “Blower Door”. The Blower Door
places the home under a negative pressure
that simulates a 10MPH wind around the
entire exterior of the home, Design Air
Technicians can then pin point air leaks
using an Infra-red camera and smoke stick
allowing the homeowner to “see” and
understand why their utility bills may be
high, or sections of their home are
uncomfortable. This information can also
uncover reasons for poor indoor air quality,
moisture problems, odors, and ice damming,
and will help you decide where best to spend
your energy improvement dollars.
For more information including a sample
blower door report or to schedule a Blower
Door Test call (216) 214-0945 or
visit
service request
form. |
