When temperatures get hot and humid in Northern VA, DC, and MD, it’s natural to want to turn the air conditioning all the way up. The truth is, even the best cooling systems are most efficient when they have some help.
You wouldn’t run the air conditioning with the windows open, would you? Similarly to leaving the windows open, a poorly sealed home can let a lot of cool, healthy air out — sometimes to the point of making it feel like your house’s AC isn’t cooling.
The best way to combat energy loss is through a combination of insulation and air sealing. Insulation is any material used to prevent the movement of heat or sound from one place to another. Air sealing is a barrier that prevents the movement of air or vapor between your home and the outdoors. The marriage of these 2 approaches to containing your home’s clean, comfortable air offers 6 major benefits:
1. Whole-home Comfort
A well insulated and sealed home will have consistent temperatures from the ground floor up. If you’re struggling with how to keep your house cool in the summertime, or even how to keep one troublesome room cool, insulation and air sealing can solve a number of comfort issues.
2. Keeping Moisture Out
The combination of air sealing and thorough insulation means your home can have well-managed moisture levels throughout your home, even in basements or crawlspaces. This means comfortable levels of humidity, even in the dog days of summer, and less mold to worry about.
3. Less Noise Pollution
Road noise and sirens keeping you up at night? Stressed out by constant construction? Home Energy Medics specializes in noise reduction services because we know that insulation paired with air sealing leads to a significant reduction in problematic noise pollution. It’s time for your home to become the restful oasis you expect it to be.
4. Maximize Cooling System Efficiency
When your cooling system is under pressure to perform, outdoor air infiltration will slow the cooling process down. As a result, your system is likely to work harder to compensate, resulting in higher energy bills and a strained system that is more prone to breakdown.
With insulation preventing the passage of heat into your home and air sealing preventing unwanted outdoor air from entering your living space, your AC will be better equipped to perform as intended for years to come, and eliminate needlessly high energy bills, which is all good news for your wallet.
5. Preserve Indoor Air Quality
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is considered one of the most important considerations for your health in your home. Poor IAQ can at best give you symptoms like a stuffy nose, and at the worst, exacerbate symptoms of asthma.
Air sealing is one of the best ways to prevent indoor health issues caused by outdoor allergens and pollutants sneaking in through gaps and drafts.
Which Insulation is Right for Your Home?
When it comes to insulation, there are highly effective options to suit the needs of every home. Even better — all of these choices pair very efficiently with air sealing:
- Blown-in or Loose Fill Cellulose
- Fiberglass Batts
- Spray Foam Insulation
Ready to explore the benefits of air sealing and insulation for your home?