If you live in a newly built home, air leaks probably won’t concern you for a few years. Anyone living in a house that’s more than a few decades old should start thinking about this problem. From heat loss to pest problems, air leakage in crawl spaces or basement bring many outdoor threats into your living spaces.
Common Sources for Air Leaks to Occur in Your Crawl Space
While air leaks can occur anywhere in your basement or crawl space, there are a few places where leaks are more common. Starting your search in these areas can help you evaluate the quality of your home’s structure.
Look for Subfloor Penetration Beneath the Basement
For the most part, a home’s subfloor should appear solid and complete in the basements. You might have to look closely to find tiny gaps around wiring, plumbing pipes, and fittings that pass through the subfloor. Although these gaps are small, they let enough air pass through to cause air quality and energy efficiency problems.
Sealing these spaces before you install crawl space insulation will ensure you get the best protection from the insulation. You can hire Attic Projects to seal air leaks of this type, or you can seal the gaps yourself. This involves getting a spray foam starter kit from a hardware store. Use the foam to fill in the spaces around any fittings running through the subfloor.
Seal and Insulate Rim Joists
A rim joist is the band board that runs along the perimeter of your foundation and connects to the floor joists. Unfortunately, builders rarely insulate rim joists, leaving them exposed to temperature variations, moisture, and humidity. This causes the rim joists to develop condensation, moisture damage, and mold.
You can use foam board or spray foam to insulate and seal the rim joists in your crawl space or basement. In addition to stopping air leaks, this will prevent heat loss in your crawl space or basement.
Tape Your HVAC Air Ducts
In addition to scheduling professional crawl space cleaning, you should have your ducts cleaned. This will help you find out about gaps or loose fittings that let air escape from your ductwork. Keep in mind that untreated and unfiltered air from your crawl space will get into your ducts through these same spaces.
You can easily seal your air ducts without any tools. All you really need is a roll of good-quality duct tape. Firmly press the tape around loose fittings and other gaps to seal them. The adhesive on this type of tape is strong enough to stop the exchange of treated and untreated air.
How to Address Air Leaks Before Installing Crawl Space Insulation
Insulating your crawl space or basement will provide you with a wide range of benefits. You’ll get more value from this project if you take the time to seal air leaks first. This will ensure environmental factors or pests can’t access your crawl space or basement to adversely impact the new insulation.
Know the Signs
An obvious indication of an air leak is the presence of a draft or noticeable temperature changes. You might also notice an unpleasant, musty odor. Look for moisture or condensation on the surfaces. Since you must have dry surfaces to install crawl space insulation, addressing air leaks is an important first step.
Look for a Leak
After you notice the signs of an air leak, you’ll have to pinpoint the source. Keep in mind that you may have several air leaks throughout your basement or crawl space. If you have old basement or crawl space insulation, you might have to remove it to find problem areas. Look for cracks in the foundation or gaps and holes in your house’s framework.
Determine Whether You Can Seal the Air Leak Yourself
Sealing one or two minor air leaks will make a quick DIY job. You can use caulk or weatherstripping to seal minor cracks, holes, or gaps. After applying the caulk or weatherstripping, feel around the area for temperature variations or drafts. If you don’t feel anything noticeable, you have probably sealed the leak.
Know When to Call the Crawl Spaces Pros
If you find several leaks or large problem areas, you might want to turn the task over to the experts. In addition to installing crawl space insulation, Attic Projects can seal large leaks and areas with multiple problems. A professional team has the expertise and equipment necessary to perform more thorough air leak sealing.
The Benefits of Air Sealing and Crawlspace Insulation
Protecting your basement or crawl space isn’t something you want to hurry to get done. Taking your time to eliminate air leaks will make the insulation far more effective. Together, these projects will deliver the following benefits.
Better Energy Efficiency
In addition to improving indoor air quality, sealing air leaks in your basement or crawl space will stop the transfer of heat. As a result, the rest of your home will retain more heat in the winter and more cool air in the summer. Your HVAC system will run fewer cycles even though your living spaces will feel more comfortable.
Protection for Your Plumbing System
An uninsulated crawl space or basement will expose your plumbing pipes to extreme temperatures. This problem worsens as air leaks expose the pipes to drafts, raising the risks of burst or frozen pipes.
By sealing and insulating your crawl space or basement, you’ll eliminate these threats. You can also protect your pipes by having professionals wrap them in insulation.
Fewer Pests Get Into Your Home
In the summer, insect infestations pose a problem for homeowners. This is especially problematic when wood-eating insects infest your property. But that doesn’t mean your home is safe in the winter. As the weather cools, several common rat species in Seattle will seek out warm shelter.
Sealing air leaks in your crawl space or basement and installing secure insulation will keep all types of pests away from the most vulnerable part of your home. In addition to blocking access to pests, this prevents odors from attracting pests. Stopping pests at this level will keep them from spreading to your indoor living spaces.
Let the Experts Update Your Crawl Space
Attic Projects services leaking air tests to identify unwanted gaps in your home’s structure. We’ll seal those gaps to make your insulation or encapsulation more effective. To find out how to improve your crawl space or basement, schedule your free inspection today! We also provide crawlspace maintenance for water leaks, window sealing, rodent proofing, expert ventilation and more.