Air Sealing In Sacramento

If you knew that change was slipping out of your wallet every time you used it, you wouldn’t just let it happen. And if you knew some of the conditioned air in your home was escaping and making your energy bills go up, you would stop it. The idea is the same: if we can keep from wasting money, we will. That’s why it’s important to seal air leaks in your home.

What Are Air Leaks?

Houses are meant to be as airtight as possible, to keep the inside in and the outside out, but that simply isn’t always the case, especially for homes that have been around for a while. Air leaks are small leaks that can form at pretty much any material seam in your home and allow cool air out of your house. Even the smallest leak could cost you big because air molecules want to be the same temperature as the other air around them. This means that warm air will rush into your home and cool air will be pulled out.

Problems That Air Leaks Can Create in Your Home

Air leaks may seem like a minor issue, but they can create issues that impact your quality of life. These leaks can lead to drafts, which can make your home uncomfortable.

In addition to the discomfort they cause, air leaks can also contribute to higher energy bills. Hot or cold air from the outside is leaking in, or conditioned air is leaking out. Either way, your HVAC system must work harder to keep up.

Furthermore, this increased activity puts more wear and tear on your system. You could find yourself paying for expensive repairs or replacing your entire AC unit.

Furthermore, air leaks can negatively impact your indoor air quality. Outdoor pollutants and allergens can infiltrate and circulate throughout your home.

Common Causes of Air Leaks in Your Home

Air leaks are a common problem, and they come from a variety of sources.

These leaks can come from gaps and cracks in walls, doors, and windows. Improperly insulated attics can also allow air in or out.

Other causes include anything that isn’t properly sealed, such as:

• Baseboards
• Attic hatches
• Switch plates
• Electrical outlets
• Vents and ceiling fans
• Cable TV and phone wires
• Fireplace dampers and shutters
• Weather stripping around doors
• Electrical and gas service entrances
• Where dryer vents pass through walls
• Frames around your door and windows
• Wall- or window-mounted air conditioners

Common Air Leak Locations

Technically, air leaks can happen almost anywhere in your house, but there are a few places where they’re more common:

• Windows and doors
• Electrical fixtures (lights, outlets, etc.)
• In and around the fireplace
• Ducts and Vents
• Wall material seams (especially corners)
• Attic access
• Plumbing fixtures
• Garage walls

How to Detect Air Leaks

With so many places for air leaks to hide, homeowners often ask, “How can I tell if my house has air leaks?” If you’ve noticed a steady increase in energy bills or simply want to make sure your home is sealed, you can conduct a visual inspection to find leaks. On the exterior of your home, look for cracks at corners, where the foundation meets the siding, at exterior faucets and around the chimney. Inside your home, check for cracks in the caulking around pretty much any seam. This includes vents, outlets, light fixtures and even the seam between your walls and the floor.

One of the biggest hot spots for air leaks is windows and doors. Inspect them for cracks both inside and outside of the frame, and check that the weather-stripping is intact.

Air Sealing Services

A visual inspection can help you find major leaks around your home, but it’s not completely effective. When you choose air sealing services from Big Mountain Heating & Air Conditioning, a professional will find and seal all of the air leaks for you. From caulking cracks to replacing weather-stripping, our technicians will seal all of the detectable cracks in your home, improving its energy efficiency and saving you money.

The Benefits of Air Sealing Services

By identifying and sealing air leaks, we can prevent conditioned air from escaping your home and reduce the infiltration of outdoor air.

This process helps:

• Lower energy bills
• Improve indoor air quality
• Increase your home’s value
• Reduce strain on HVAC system
• Enhance comfort and temperature consistency

Our Process

Our air sealing process begins with a thorough inspection of your home. In this step, we identify all the tiny gaps and cracks in your home's exterior.

After locating your air leaks, we use specialized tools and materials to seal those leaks off. By blocking off these entry points, we help reduce energy waste and lower your monthly energy bills.

Air sealing is a comprehensive process requiring a trained technician’s skills. Our team is up to the task. When you work with us, we help keep your home as airtight as possible.

Contact Big Mountain Air today, and let us show you what quality air sealing looks like. Call (916) 301-4315 us or fill out a service form online to begin your service request.