Even if your house has the most efficient heating equipment, your energy bill can still take a big bite out of your wallet each month if your home is rife with air leaks. That’s why sealing air leaks is a critical step in decreasing your home’s heating load.

Your home’s heating load is the amount of heat it needs for you and your family to stay comfortable. If you seal up air leaks, you’ll decrease the heating load and ask less from your heating equipment. As a result, your furnace will last longer because it won’t have to work quite as hard.

When sealing air leaks, think of your home in three major sections, working from the bottom up:

The Basement

The rim joist, where the foundation meets the wood framing, is a common source of air leaks: seal around the top edges at the ceiling and around the basement floor. Don’t forget to seal around vents or gas pipe installations as well.

The First (And Second) Floor

Here, air leaks commonly occur wherever holes in the outer structure were made. This includes window and door frames, as well as electrical outlets. In addition, be sure to seal places where ductwork extends through the floors, or any plumbing pipes.

The Attic

In the attic space, it’s important to plug gaps or leaks where construction materials meet, like at the edges of the floor, ceiling and corners, or where materials protrude, like the attic hatch, knee walls, recessed lighting and soffits. Ductwork, plumbing pipes and the chimney are also a concern.

Throughout the home, you can use caulk or expanding foam spray to seal leaks. In general, caulk can be used for small leaks about a quarter of an inch wide, and foam spray can be used for larger leaks, up to 3 inches.

Stop energy losses and increase energy savings with this simple sealing project. If you’d like more information about how you can decrease your home’s heating load, contact the experts at Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about sealing air leaks and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning services the Raleigh, NC area.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

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