10 Little Known Areas Where Air Sealing and Insulation Can Save Money

According to the US Department of Energy, 47% of your energy bill comes from heating and cooling your home.   The diagram to your right (courtesy of the Department of Energy) depicts the flow of air through a typical house and highlights those areas with the highest levels of air leakage and lost utility dollars.

Here are the top 10 areas of your home where proper air sealing and insulation can decrease air leakage to save you money on utility bills.

1. Attics
The attic is one of the biggest culprits for air leakage and energy loss in your home.  If your attic does not have the proper level of insulation for the climate conditions of your geographic region, you are throwing money away.  If the insulation in your attic is less than 11 inches of fiberglass or 8 inches of cellulose, consider adding more to keep the cold air in during the summer and the warm air in during the winter.

2. Exhaust Fans and Vents
When vents and fans are not in use, they are most assuredly leaking air. Consider installing an insulation barrier or buying a removable magnetic cover to reduce air flow and help prevent leaks.

3. Recessed Lighting
Recessed light fixtures are often installed without the proper surrounding insulation.  To avoid any potential fire hazard, we suggest using a professional to properly insulate these areas.

4. Attic Hatch
Many homeowners invest in additional insulation for their attic, but leave the hatch exposed to air leakage.  Adding weather stripping around the frame and 4 inch foam board to the hatch can help reduce this energy loss.  If your attic hatch has attached stairs, an attic tent can also be effective.

5. Windows
An obvious, but often overlooked source of air leakage, all windows should be sealed with foam insulation and caulking.

6. Doors
Like windows, this area is also an obvious source of leakage and should be sealed with foam insulation, caulking and a simple door sweep.

7. Electrical Outlets
Electrical outlets located on outside facing walls are commonly overlooked, but notorious for air leakage.  Simply install foam gaskets behind the outlets and switch plates for an easy, affordable fix.

8. Air Ducts
Homeowners can lose hundreds of dollars per year through poorly sealed air ducts.  Conditioned air escapes through improperly sealed joints and is lost to the unconditioned space where the duct is located.  Relatively inexpensive and easy to apply, duct mastic should be used to seal these joints to prevent air leakage and increase efficiency.

9. Fireplaces
We all enjoy the warmth and ambiance of a crackling fire.  But did you know that when not in use, fireplaces draw the conditioned air out of your house through the chimney?  This results in the loss of warm air in winter and cool air in the summer.  Chimney top dampers and chimney balloons can help prevent this energy loss.  Again, due to possible fire hazard, we suggest engaging a professional to complete these retrofits.

10. Basements and Crawl Spaces
When homeowners consider insulating their homes, they often forget about basements and crawl spaces.  Adding insulation, where possible, can prevent the convection cycle of air infiltration in the home.  In addition, foam sealing all incoming/outgoing pipes and electrical wires can help prevent air leakage and energy loss in these areas.

These 10 areas in your home can be subject to considerable levels of air leakage, which directly drive up utility bills.  An Energy Audit provides a comprehensive assessment of all these areas as well as the overall efficiency of your home.  In addition, our Auditors will create a customized air sealing and insulation strategy to increase your home’s efficiency, decrease heating and cooling costs, and maximize your return on investment.

Have questions about Energy Audits, Air Sealing or Insulation?   Our Energy Experts are happy to assist you.