The Benefits of Insulation and Air Sealing

Upgrading your home’s insulation and air sealing is one of the most effective ways to reduce your energy consumption and improve energy efficiency—the EPA estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15% on their heating and cooling costs by sealing air leaks and insulating their attic and basement or crawl space. 

The benefits of proper insulation and air sealing include: 

• Better energy efficiency 

• Reduced energy consumption 

• Lower heating and cooling costs 

• More comfortable indoor temperatures

• Improved indoor air quality 

• Less noise intrusion 

What’s the Difference Between Insulation and Air Sealing?

Insulation slows the transfer of heat into and out of your home. When it’s hot outside, your insulation stops heat from moving into your home. During the cooler months, insulation keeps heat contained. Common insulation materials include spray foam insulation, cellulose, and fiberglass batts. 

Insulation can only stop heat transfer, however, and to maximize energy efficiency, you need to stop air movement too. That’s where air sealing comes in. Air sealing is the process of filling in gaps and cracks in your home’s construction to prevent air from moving into and out of your home. So, when your AC is running, the cool air it creates is contained, and hot air from the outside is unable to penetrate your home. 

Insulation and air sealing work best together, and because they accomplish separate goals, you need both to keep your home as comfortable and energy efficient as possible. 

How to Find Air Leaks in the House 

Finding air leaks and underinsulated areas is difficult with the naked eye. Home performance contractors use special equipment including infrared cameras and blower doors to track down air leaks and locate poorly insulated areas. This process is typically referred to as an energy audit or energy assessment and is the first step you should take if you want to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Making air sealing and insulation improvements without performing an energy audit first is like taking medication without a diagnosis—you need to know what the problem is before you can solve it. 

Schedule an Energy Audit With the Local Home Performance Expert

Here at Greencat, we understand the science behind heat movement and we know how to stop it effectively. With a comprehensive energy assessment, we can detect air leaks and evaluate your basement, wall, and attic insulation’s effectiveness. 

Once we’ve uncovered the source of the problem, we’ll recommend solutions, like air sealing your attic or basement, that will have the greatest impact on your home comfort and energy efficiency. We’ll also let you know what type of insulation is best for your home and answer any questions you have about the process. Here at Greencat, we take our responsibility to our customers very seriously and we never recommend improvements that we wouldn’t make to our own homes. 

Need new insulation and air sealing? Talk to the pros at Greencat. Call 323-208-9071 or contact us here to get a free quote.