Even with the appropriate insulation in your attic, air can seep between small gaps in the attic floor, warming the air in your home that you want to keep cool or chilling air that you want to stay warm. The experts from Anthem Insulation & Home attic insulation service in Alpharetta describe how air sealing an attic can help you maintain your home temperature and save energy.
What is Air Sealing?
Air sealing an attic involves testing for drafts in the attic space, including the attic floor, crawl spaces, and sub-roof areas. Depending on where inspectors find the drafts and the formation of the leak, technicians will use caulk or other sealants to block airflow between your attic and living space.
Your home should maintain a similar temperature to where you set your air conditioning or heating system. Sealing the attic floor prevents heat transfer through small gaps between your living space and your attic, as well as between the attic and outside.
How Do Attic Insulation and Air Sealing Work Together?
Whether your attic insulation uses foam board or fiberglass insulation, the primary purpose of insulation is to keep cool air on one side and warm air on the other. During the summer, you want cool air inside and hot air to stay outside. You want to keep your home warm in the winter to fight off outside chills.
You can maintain your home’s temperature year-round by air sealing an attic and ensuring there is enough insulation in place. Simply air sealing without insulation won’t offer your home enough protection against the sun heating the attic through the roof in the summer or from the cold wind gusts that can enter a home through the attic in winter.
Appropriate attic insulation can help keep heat, cold, and moisture out of your attic space. Roofs have to breathe through the attic space to expand and contract with changing temperatures. Air sealing can further impede heat transfer through the attic between your home and the outside.
Are There Risks to Air Sealing?
Some homes feature construction where some systems vent into the attic, such as chimneys or furnaces. These systems produce fumes that can be harmful to inhale, especially carbon monoxide.
Never attempt to air seal an attic yourself. Always hire a professional air sealing and insulation company to inspect your attic and any systems that utilize the attic space. An experienced attic insulation company inspector can advise you about whether it would be safe to seal your attic.
Can Air Sealing Save Me Money on My Energy Bills?
Air sealing can typically save you between 10-30% on energy bills, depending on several other factors. On average, 43% of your energy bill comes from heating and cooling according to Energy Star.
Other factors that can affect heating and cooling costs include:
- Home insulation in walls
- HVAC capacity rating
- Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of your air conditioning system
- Secure duct sealing
Call the Insulation Experts at Anthem Insulation & Home in Alpharetta, GA
If you want expert help in air sealing an attic in Alpharetta, GA, call the experienced team at Anthem Insulation & Home to schedule an inspection.