INSULATION AND SEALING AIR LEAKS

  Insulation Tips

1. Consider factors such as your climate, building design, and budget when selecting insulation R-values for your house.

2. Use higher density insulations, such as rigid foam boards, in cathedral ceilings and on exterior walls.

3. Ventilation plays a large role in providing moisture control and reducing summer cooling bills.  Attic vents can be installed along the entire ceiling cavity to help ensure proper airflow from the soffit to the attic to make a home more comfortable and energy efficient.  Check with a qualified contractor.

4. Recessed light fixtures can be a major source of heat loss, but you need to be careful how close you place insulation next to a fixture unless it is marked IC – designed for direct insulation contact.  Check your local building codes for recommendations. 

5. As specified on the product packaging, follow the product instructions on installation and wear the proper protective gear when installing insulation.

       Sources of Air Leaks in Your Home

    Dropped ceiling       Door frames                All ducts         Chimney flashing     

    Window frames       Attic entrance              Sill plates         Water and furnace flues

    Recessed light         Plumbing and utility access         Electrical outlets and switches

 Tips for Sealing Air Leaks

1.  First, test your home for air tightness.  On a windy day, hold a lit incense stick next to your windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches, and other locations where there is a possible air path to the outside.  If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you have located an air leak that may need caulking, sealing, or weather-stripping.

2. Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows that leak air.

3. Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ducting, or electrical wiring penetrates through exterior walls, floors, ceilings, and soffits over cabinets.

4. Install rubber gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on exterior walls.

5. Look for dirty spots in your insulation, which often indicate holes where air leaks into and out of your house.  You can seal the holes by stapling sheets of plastic over the holes and caulking the edges of the plastic.

6. Install storm windows over single-pane windows or replace them with double-pane windows.

7. When the fireplace is not in use, keep the flue damper tightly closed.  A chimney is designed specifically for smoke to escape, so until you close it, warm air escapes – 24 hours a day!

8. For new construction, reduce exterior wall leaks by either installing house wrap, taping the joints of exterior sheathing, or comprehensively caulking and sealing the exterior walls.