Upper-Level Air Leaks in Your Home

Apr 9, 2021 | News

Is your heat escaping though upper-level air leaks? Does the heat from your top floor dissipate when you turn off your thermostat? Are you feeling drafts upstairs? This could be a product of poor weatherization, or air leaks in the upper areas of your home.

There are many factors that can cause drafts and air leaks in your home, and worse, the air leaks can cause rising heating bills in the winter. Before you end up paying more on air that is escaping out of your home, look for the signs. We believe that it’s imperative that your home has proper weatherization.

Our Home Energy Assessment helps determine the areas of your home that need to be weatherized. After our assessment, we make recommendations to drastically improve the energy efficiency of your home.

Your Home Heat Envelope and Air Leaks

Your “Thermal Heat Envelope” is the part of your home that shields it from outside elements. This includes, but is not limited to, windows, roofing, walls, insulation, etc. An air leak is when the envelope is not sealed as well as it could be. In order to keep the warm air (winter) or cool air (summer) within the envelope, it’s important to make sure the top of your house is properly sealed.

Where to Weatherize

  • Top-Plate: The place where your attic and drywall meet.
  • Duct-Register: Air ducts can be found in the ceilings, walls, and floors of your home.
  • Attic Hatch: Attic hatches, often referred to as attic doors, can easily be overlooked when considering ways to increase energy efficiency.
  • Recessed Lighting: Air can escape through the gaps caused by recessed lighting in the ceiling of your home.
  • Plumbing Vent Stack: The main function of a vent stack is to regulate air pressure throughout the areas of your home’s plumbing system.
  • Dropped Soffit: A soffit is a lowered portion of the ceiling in a room.

Making sure your home has proper weatherization in the upper level of your home is important for so many reasons. Not only will it save you money on heating and cooling but proper insulation can prevent issues such as condensation buildup and water damage which can lead to structural issues and mold.

Schedule a Home-Energy-Assessment with Potential Energy today and see how we can help improve your energy efficiency and save you money today!