It’s that time of year when many of us are setting pumpkins out on the porch and making our best costumes from scratch. As you stretch those fake spider webs across your mantles and railings, are you noticing that some of those webs in your home that seem to be—gulp—real?
Eerily enough, here in Illinois spiders often creep into houses at this time of the year in search of food (AKA: other creepy crawlers). Fortunately, there is a simple solution to get rid of those spiders once and for all, and it can even make your home more comfortable and energy efficient! We’re talking, of course, about air sealing.
What Is Air Sealing?
Before we go in-depth about air sealing, let’s talk about air leaks. Air leaks are holes, cracks, and gaps around windows, door frames, plumbing and wiring penetrations, and recessed lighting. Many houses are riddled with them. Though these air leaks may seem tiny, they cause indoor drafts, allow pests to enter, decrease home efficiency, and more.
Air sealing is the process of closing up air leaks throughout your home. When done properly, air sealing offers benefits like:
Fewer indoor drafts
More consistent indoor temperatures
Increased indoor comfort
Reduced stress on HVAC equipment
Greater home efficiency
Lower energy bills
Fewer outside pests
Some homeowners attempt to air seal their homes themselves using caulk, but the most effective type of air sealing is done by a professional using spray foam insulation.
Signs That It’s Time to Air Seal Your Home
Air leaks are often undetectable to the human eye, so it can be hard to determine if they’re affecting your home. Here are some telltale signs that there are air leaks in your home:
Indoor drafts
Temperature fluctuations
High energy bills
Moisture issues
Excess dust
Pinpoint Air Leaks with an Energy Audit
Ultimately, the best way to pinpoint air leaks in your home is to schedule a home energy audit with Illinois’ local home performance experts, Assured Insulation Solutions. During your energy audit, we’ll perform a complete visual inspection and complete diagnostic tests (like blower door testing and thermal imaging) to determine where air leaks are in your home.
With the results of your energy audit in hand, our team will target and eliminate your air leaks once and for all using high performance spray foam insulation.