IT’S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR! Submitted by Sean Welsh, Energy Resource Educator
The end of the summer and the passing of the Sullivan County Youth Fair can only mean cooler weather will soon arrive. Fall is an excellent time to do some air sealing and energy effiecncy updating around the home or apartment. Air sealing is a specific step when looking to weatherize a home or apartment. It refers to stopping air leaks in the home and can help bring down heating and cooling costs, improve comfort, and create a healthier indoor air environment. Caulking and weatherstripping are two effective techniques. Caulk is used for cracks and around door and window frames, while weather-stripping is used to seal moving parts of the home, such as doors and windows. If outside air is free to move into a home, it will cause conditioned air (heated or cooled air depending on the season) to move out of the home, making HVAC equipment work harder and raising the cost to heat and cool the home. Air leaks can also bring moisture problems that further effect occupant health and cause parts of the home to break down over time. Before air sealing begins, detect air leaks and assess the ventilation needs for indoor air quality. A Page 6
resource at the conclusion of this article can be used in NYS to get a home energy audit or blower door test. Tips for sealing air leaks: -Test home for tightness - For apartments look for products that will air seal without chipping or peeling paint - Look to doors and windows first to caulk and weather-strip gaps and cracks to the outside - Look to caulk and air seal leaks where plumbing, ducting, or electrical wiring comes through walls, floors, ceilings and soffits over cabinets. - Install foam gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on walls - Look for dirty spots in your insulation. This can indicate air leaks or mold. Extension Connection
October 2021
This can be sealed up (low expansion foam products) or the product replaced - Look for dirty spots on your ceiling or carpet, which can indicate an air leak at interior wall/ ceiling joints and wall/ floor joists and caulk them - Filler foam for small and large gaps can be used for large spaces. For those interested in a home energy audit to diagnose all the possible ways to improve your homes efficiency connec with Sean Welsh, Community Energy Advisor at 845-292-6180 ex 127 or email at sw288@ cornell.edu. Source; “Air Sealing Your Home.” Energy.gov. Accessed September 08, 2021. https:// www.energy.gov/energysaver/weatherize/ air-sealing-your-home.
