Envelope Air Sealing

Envelope air sealing is perhaps the most effective Home Performance element.

Air infiltration is an important, but often overlooked issue that increases the cost of heating and cooling a home, lowers comfort, and lowers your air quality.  According to the EPA, up to 20% of your heating and cooling costs can be saved by sealing and preventing unwanted drafts in your home.  Furthermore, the air in your home is now coming through old insulation, dust, and sometimes mold or rodent droppings. (Yuck!) Temperature differentials between indoor and outdoor spaces force air through gaps which may be present in your doors, windows, floors and walls.  At Bonney, we know it is important that these gaps are sealed tightly to block the drafts which increase your energy bill and lower your air quality.

Locations

Many of the drafts in our home come from improper sealing around windows and doors.  Other areas include openings in the drywall around electrical outlets, switches, lights, and registers.  Even vents around your stove, water heater, or bathroom fans can cause drafts to leak through.  Sometimes, air can leak through places where walls meet ceilings, floors and soffits.  The construction of certain ceilings and floors are also very leaky.

Sealing

These gaps can be filled with weather stripping, caulking, butyl tape and special gaskets.  However, it is also important to seal the tops and bottoms of walls in the attic and crawl space.  Special concerns are knee walls and soffits that can be open to the attics and crawl spaces.

Spray Foam Insulation

At Bonney, we consider spray foam insulation a crucial part of the envelope air sealing process.  The application of spray foam in the roof rafters and the crawl space provides excellent envelope air sealing.  As well, spray foam increases the R value of your homes insulation reducing your energy bills in an additional way.  Spray foam reduces energy costs in two ways and increases air quality substantially.  We highly recommend it!