Insulation and Sealing

  • Air Sealing Your Home

    When you turn on your air conditioner or heat unit, you often make sure all windows or doors are also closed so your en­ergy dollars don’t go flying out the door. This same principle is also true when it comes to cracks and holes throughout the house. These air leaks cause your cooling/heating unit to run longer and harder and in some cases, there may be enough cracks around the house that if you added them all together, it would be about the size of an open window.

    Air sealing your home, both inside and out, is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve energy ef­ficiency and comfort. Ac­cording to a report by the Oak Ridge National Labo­ratory and Pacific North­west National Laboratory, homeowners can save 10-20 percent on their heating and cooling costs just by closing up those air leaks. Buy a tube of caulk and a can of sprayfoam and seal anywhere you see a crack or hole. When you seal your home, it stops air from moving freely between the out­side and inside of your house. So how do you determine where to seal around your home?

    A good strategy is to simply walk around the outside of your home and caulk or foam any openings you see, especially around pipes or wire penetrations. Additional air leaks and drafts are easier to find because you can feel for them – such as those around windows and doors.

    Inside your home, the main area for air leaks is where your wall meets the floor or ceiling. Typically there is molding in place and you can caulk around the molding. Other com­mon places include air penetration points in the ceiling, such as near ceiling fans and lights and the attic access. Sealing these leaks with caulk, spray foam or weather stripping can have an impact on improving your comfort and aide in reducing your utility bills.

    Leaks also allow moisture to come into your home. Your cooling unit regulates both tem­perature and humidity, but when moisture is added to your home, it can become very humid and uncomfortable, especially during the hot Alabama summers, causing your unit to run even more.

    A tube of caulk and a can of spray foam are fairly inexpensive, and sealing your house is an easy way to lower your energy bills while gaining comfort.

  • Do It Yourself Attic Insulation

    Have you looked in your attic lately? Insulation in your attic is an essential component to help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. While the cooler temperatures are making your attic more comfortable, it’s the perfect time of year to re-apply attic insulation before the hot summer heat arrives.

    There are numerous types of insulation to choose from, and each has a different method of installation. The example below uses cellulose–an easy “do it yourself” process.

    Supplies:
    Cellulose Insulation

    Tools:
    Insulation Blower
    Machine
    Gloves
    Goggles
    Breathing Masks

    Directions: Purchase the cellulose insulation at your local hardware store where you should also be able to rent an insulation blower. The amount you need will depend on the square footage of your home and the thickness of the existing insulation. Make sure the thickness of your insulation (including any existing insulation) is between 12 and 15 inches, which should give you an R-value of 38. You will need at least one person to assist you in applying the insulation.

    Installing Cellulose Attic Insulation:

    1. Place the insulation and the blower machine outdoors. DO NOT operate the machine indoors.

    2. Take the blower’s tube up into the attic with you (through a window or door in the house). Make sure you are outfitted with gloves, goggles and a breathing mask.

    3. Have the person (also outfitted with gloves, goggles and a breathing mask) stationed near the blower machine begin to feed it with the loose, cellulose insulation, one bale at a time. When ready, this person will also control the flow of the insulation by using an on/off switch or a lever that allows insulation to pass through.

    4. In the attic, sweep the blower’s tube in the locations where you desire the insulation. When finished, have the person stationed with the blower turn off the machine.

    On average, an 1,800 square foot house will take approximately four hours to complete at a cost of $500. Prices and times may vary due to retailers, square footage and depth of existing insulation. On a house with little or no pre-existing insulation, adding more—and doing it yourself—can help make your home more comfortable and provide some cost savings to your power bill.