If you want to seal your attic, you’ve come to the right place. Sealing your attic is essential for reducing energy bills, preventing ice dams, and improving indoor air quality. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of attic air sealing. But first, let’s examine what makes attic air leaks so difficult.
It Reduces Energy Bills.
Sealing attic air leaks is a great way to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy bills. While you can choose between blown-in cellulose, fiberglass batts, or spray foam, you can also choose to seal air gaps and cracks. Although air sealing will help reduce energy bills, it is essential to seal any existing gaps before installing new insulation. The attic is a prime culprit of energy leaks, and if the area is not sealed correctly, it will allow the heated or cooled air to escape and the hot air to enter the home’s interior.
The air in an attic can be contaminated with mold and mildew, which can have serious health implications. By eliminating leaks, you will reduce the stack effect by eliminating leaks, wasting less energy. In addition to toxins, mold and mildew can cause health problems, so air sealing your attic will improve indoor air quality.
It Prevents Ice Dams.
If your roof suffers from ice dams, you must do what you can to prevent them. They damage roofs and insulation and tear off shingles. You’ll notice peeling paint, warped floors, and stained ceilings. In addition, ice dams can cause soggy insulation in the attic, which loses its R-value and attracts mold.
If you have unconditioned attics, sealing attic air leaks is essential for preventing ice dams. This insulation is inexpensive insurance against ice dams. You should also insulate your attic with an R-40 value.
It Reduces Ice Dams
When you have a leaky roof, it can be challenging to predict the exact time when the dams will form. It may be winter, or it may be fall, but both of these events can cause damage to your home. In any case, sealing attic air leaks will help reduce the likelihood of ice dams forming. In addition to reducing the number of ice dams, it will also reduce your energy bills. Whether in a cold or warm climate, you must get your roof appropriately insulated to prevent damage to your home.
While increasing your attic ventilation and adding additional insulation won’t solve these problems, you can maximize your home’s energy savings by sealing attic air leaks. While most air leaks will be located in the attic, an infrared scan will reveal them more precisely.
It Improves Indoor Air Quality.
If your home isn’t sealed correctly, you may have dangerous pollutants like carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds. Attic air leaks are widespread in homes near busy roads and those with noisy neighbors. Air sealing makes the home quieter, allowing you to sleep later and turn up the music without worrying about disturbing your neighbors. You might even be surprised to find out that a properly sealed attic can save you a lot of money on the cost of daily dusting.
A leaky attic can also affect the heating capabilities of your HVAC system, forcing it to pump more air to keep the house warm. This increases energy bills and can damage your home’s structure. By sealing the attic, you can keep these energy costs down. Plus, you can improve indoor air quality by keeping soil gas out of the home. While soil gas isn’t necessarily harmful, it can disrupt the air quality in your home.