High Priority Locations For New Home Air Sealing

If you’re having a new home built, there are dozens and dozens of decisions you and your family will have to make throughout the construction process. One thing you might not have considered, though, is air sealing your new house. This is something your contractors should do on their own, but it’s still a topic you ought to be educated about.

If you are worried that your new home hasn’t been properly air sealed, make sure you approach your contractor to discuss the issue. It’s better to talk about it now than find out you have a problem after a year in your space! The five spots you should prioritize when it comes to air sealing are outlined in the next section. Top plate to attic drywall – Air sealing your attic above the sheetrock and the top plate is of vital importance. This spot in your home allows more air to enter than anywhere else. If it isn’t properly sealed, you could end up with higher utility bills in both the summer and the winter for years to come.

1. Recessed light fixtures to finished ceiling or wall – Recessed lights are extremely popular in modern homes. Many of these fixtures are EnergyStar rated and designed to be airtight. Nonetheless, the only way to guarantee they won’t let air into your home is to have the space between the fixture and the sheetrock air sealed by your professional builder.
2. Duct boot to finished surface – Ducts can pose a major air leakage risk. Usually, standard-sized duct boots are sealed to the ceiling or the subfloor they sit on. Air sealing becomes essential when the crawl space, basement, or attic below or above the ductwork is open, unfinished space.
3. Top and bottom of band joists – Any reputable builder should insulate your home’s band joists. However, it is also important for them to be air sealed properly. If your band joists are left unsealed, there’s the potential for several hundred feet of cracks to be left unattended. Additionally, band joists location just above a house’s foundation can lead to a fairly significant amount of air leakage.
4. Garage wall to shared exterior house wall –  Air leakage in this location typically happens because the home’s exterior wall is finished with drywall, rather than cladding or another more substantial material. As an example, an 8 x 10 foot shared would ultimately have 52 joints and edges requiring air sealing.

This guide is simply meant to help you understand the basic importance of air sealing. If you have specific questions about your new construction project, you should speak to your contractor. He or she will be able to help you understand precisely what is being done to protect your house from future air leaks.

Contact Anderson Insulation of Maine

If you need assistance with home insulation, contact us today at Anderson Insulation of Maine, or give us a call at 207-653-0331 for more information.