ATTIC AIR SEALING AND INSULATION 

Why Air Sealing?
Proper insulation helps keep a house warm in summer and cool in winter. Insulation works by blocking the Fow of heat through a surface such as a wall or roof. But insulation does not necessarily block the movement of air, especially when cracks, holes, or other gaps are found in the house. Think of insulation as a sweater — it can keep you warm when the air outside is cold, but it doesn’t block the wind. For that you need a windbreaker. Air sealing acts like a windbreaker. Air leaks can make your home feel drafty and uncomfortable and place an unnecessary strain on heating and cooling equipment, which decreases their efficiency and raises your energy bills. Air leaks can also let in moisture that can warp and damage wood and lead to mold.

Air Leak Locations
Air leaks can occur anywhere gaps exist in the home. Those around windows and doors are the most obvious, but there are often many smaller and less detectable gaps present. Air leaks can also be found where rising warm air is replaced by cooler air (as often happens between an attic and the conditioned spaces below) or where exposed insulation contains dirty spots (showing air infiltration). 

PAIR IT WITH VENTILATION

Air sealing and ventilation go hand in hand. The first step in the air sealing
process involves determining how much fresh air is needed to ensure healthy indoor air quality and to properly ventilate combustion appliances such as stoves, ovens, fuel-burning furnaces, and fireplaces. Without proper ventilation, excessive water vapor and harmful combustible gases can accumulate in the home. If combustion appliances do not get enough oxygen, they will operate inefficiently and may release dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide into the home. Ensuring that you have proper ventilation is yet another reason you should hire a professional home energy auditor or certified HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning) contractor. 

A professional energy assessor will first carry out a home energy assessment in order to find air leaks, determine the best course of action for sealing those leaks, and carry out the upgrade work. Many homeowners, however, elect to use a do-it-yourself approach to finding and sealing air leaks. This approach can be effective for obvious leaks such as those around door frames and exterior wall penetrations for pipes, vents, electrical fixtures and wires, and around ducts and fans. However, this approach will not work for small and hard to detect leaks, especially those in the attics of existing homes that may be covered by layers of insulation.

A roof ventilation system is an essential part of your roof that allows outdoor air to pass in and out of slots in your attic. To make sure things don’t get too hot and humid upstairs, roof vents control the flow of air by bringing fresh air into the attic and pushing out hot air. In summer, the attic airflow protects your attic from overheating.