What Is An Airtight Home?
Designing, building or retrofitting an AirTight home is a professional approach to identifying traditional building envelope problems and correcting them through the use of spray foam insulation and other air sealing products. Conventional insulation products do not address many of the building envelope concerns that exist today such as:
- Air infiltration
- Vapor Drive
- Non-Conventional Framing
- Non-ventilated attics/crawl spaces
Insulation should add value to energy savings, indoor air quality, safety, durability and comfort. AirTight SprayFoam insulation is designed to meet all of these demands. With the addition of AirTight SprayFoam, homeowner’s gain “peace of mind” that their home delivers maximum protection against energy loss and maximum comfort for their family.
Blower Door Test
A blower door test is used to help determine the “AirTightness” of a home. How they work – A blower door is a powerful fan that mounts into the frame of an exterior door. The fan pulls air out of the house, lowering the air pressure inside. The higher outside air pressure then flows in through all unsealed cracks and openings. This test determines the air infiltration rate of a building.
Thermal Imaging
An effective way to determine the heat loss or gain in a building envelope is by using thermal imaging photography. Thermal imaging identifies leaks where air may be entering or exiting a building by displaying warmer areas with a distinct RED color, as it stands out against cooler areas.
Air Sealing
Airflow through cracks and holes in the walls, ceiling and floor is referred to as air infiltration. In addition to the use of spray foam, air infiltration is minimized by caulking and sealing the building envelope. A home that is not sealed for air infiltration will be uncomfortable due to drafts and will use about 30% more energy than a well sealed home. Controlling air infiltration is one of the most cost-effective energy-efficiency measures in modern construction practices.
Blower Door Test
Attic Applications
Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation can be used in two common ways to insulate your attic space and protect your home from inclement weather and moisture-related damages – Vented and Non-Vented Attic spaces.
Crawl Space Application
A home that is not sealed for air infiltration will be uncomfortable due to drafts and will use about 30% more energy than a well-sealed home. Controlling air infiltration is one of the most cost-effective energy-efficiency measures in modern construction practices.
Affording Energy Upgrades
Home energy upgrades are more affordable today than ever before. Programs such as Home Performance with Energy Star, and others, are paving the way for homeowners to better afford home energy upgrades. With 10 year unsecured financing, many retrofits can be cash flow positive to the homeowners budget from day 1. The energy savings of 30%-50% on average, will typically offset 75%-100%+ of the monthly cost of the project.