One of the best ways to improve the energy efficiency of your new or existing home is by aggressively air sealing every possible void. Air sealing homes has reached new levels of attention with the current Energy Star rating system. Leaky building envelopes can cause as much as a 20% loss in energy efficiency.
To be effective, air sealing must be taken seriously and done thoroughly. Energy Star has some great guidelines on air sealing. The US Department of Energy also has guidelines for air sealing new and existing construction. You can also find advanced air sealing details and diagrams from Oikos. You can buy a Foam Gun from Amazon that will attach to pre-mixed foam cans.
The easiest way to approach air sealing is by trying to visualize every spot in the building envelope that can leak and allow air to penetrate your home. If you stop and think about it that way you may be surprised how many penetrations exist in the building envelope. The following is a list of building envelope locations that should be sealed (this is based on new construction).
Air Sealing Locations
- Wall plates – use caulking to seal along the junction between floors and wall plates, the junction between the two top plates.
- Wall framing – gaps between two adjacent wall studs (jack stud and main stud).
- Electrical penetrations – foam around all holes made in framing for wiring, foam around junction boxes, foam behind junction boxes for better R value, seal around light fixture housings, seal around fan fixture housings, and seal around junction boxes after drywall is installed.
- Plumbing penetrations – seal around all holes in the framing for pipes.
- Attic hatches – make sure you seal around attic hatches.
- Windows – seal around window framing with a low expansion foam.
- Doors – seal around door framing with low expansion foam.
- Fireplaces and chimneys – seal around fireplaces and chimneys, make sure you use high heat caulking that’s rated for this application.
- Rim joists – seal around rim joists and plates at the foundation level.
Taking the time to properly air seal your home can result an energy savings as much as 20%. Todays construction industry uses the phrase “build it tight, ventilate right”. I strongly believe i this approach and hope you’ll consider air sealing as part of your next green construction project.
Is your basement Insulated?
Another area that not only needs air sealing but also insulation is your basement. Basement Insulation is extremely important if you want to save energy and keep your home warm.
We did a lot of these things over the last two years (well, my dad did most of it for us) in our 80-year-old brick house. I think it has helped some. Do you think that foam insulators behind outlet plates help much, or not?