https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-3-rules-of-air-sealing/ Building science knowledge, HVAC design, & fun Thu, 02 Sep 2021 13:47:06 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-3-rules-of-air-sealing/#comment-4934 Sat, 03 Nov 2012 22:24:58 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-3-rules-of-air-sealing#comment-4934 Great post and great comments
Great post and great comments. I particularly like Bills addition about small holes and Eric’s relating his experience.  
 
My thought was there might be a # 4. Seal high, then low, then all around. Standard stack effect image helps convey the different value of sealing a the same size hole based upon its location in the envelope/enclosure.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-3-rules-of-air-sealing/#comment-4933 Thu, 01 Nov 2012 09:25:08 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-3-rules-of-air-sealing#comment-4933 I’m not a building/home
I’m not a building/home energy pro but I do use the stuff that is usually uncommon called common sence. Good article by the way this is a keeper for sure! I’ve noticed in rental properties that these are sometimes big issues (Holes of all sizes) I guess mainly it is because the owner does not usually pay the utilities. However this can cost the owner big-time in damages. Even in central Louisiana a home was left over a winter vacant most people seem to move in warm weather, etc. A water heater was not winterized/drained and by next renter was ruined. Moving on also these properties have a lot of little holes due to the “professional” installation guys for sattelite tv/internet/phone/etc. Sometimes cables get yanked out and new holes drilled with no one insulating the old holes in floors and other places including wall recepticles with really nice drafts. Also with older structures usually means poor insulation to begin with not even going to touch the building envelope on this one because it is non-exsistant. However, pull wall/switch/cable plates off and there is many small gaps that lead to a lot of energy loss over the whole structure. Last is under the kitchen or bathroom sinks in houses with custom built into place cabinets. You guessed it around drain pipes. I have found one that had to be at least 12″ x 20″ before! Oh last place is oven/stove top vent flues into attics. I don’t like to even bother with these things anymore and recommend a flueless replacement. Then insulate/fix the now big holes and presto now the overhead cabinet actually can be used for something. Just my experience with mostly older rentals, cause they are buildings too. And if utilities/energy bills are getting into the extremes for a renter they will move as soon as it is warm enough.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-3-rules-of-air-sealing/#comment-4932 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 22:00:32 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-3-rules-of-air-sealing#comment-4932 Lucy, One good way to seal
Lucy, One good way to seal the large holes under bath tubs is to cut a hole in OSB or plywood then cut it in half. Fit the 2 pieces around the pipe and air seal all of the joints.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-3-rules-of-air-sealing/#comment-4931 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 08:50:30 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-3-rules-of-air-sealing#comment-4931 Alison, 

Alison, 
 
Could you show us HOW to seal some of these holes? The bathtub drainpipe is one of the biggies. I’ve got some Roxul mineral wool that I am going to use to insulate around chimneys, but where there is potential for something to get wet, I just don’t know what material to put there. Thank you for your always informative posts.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-3-rules-of-air-sealing/#comment-4930 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 16:24:03 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-3-rules-of-air-sealing#comment-4930 Dan O.:
Dan O.: Absolutely! Combustion safety is at the top of the list. 
 
Leighton T.: It’s not actually upside down, but I can see you might think that. The water stains you see, though, are from the overflow up near the top of the tub.  
 
Eric: Yeah, doing things in the proper sequence is important. One of the very first articles I wrote in this blog was Don’t Insulate Your Attic! The point of it was to avoid the problem you’ve had.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-3-rules-of-air-sealing/#comment-4929 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 08:20:58 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-3-rules-of-air-sealing#comment-4929 Went up to my attic a couple
Went up to my attic a couple weeks ago to try to tackle those small holes – after already paying a contractor to “air seal” the attic, they sortakinda missed things like the laundry chute open to the attic (aka “large hole”). But 20+” of cellulose actually makes it really hard first to find, and then to clear away enough to fix, those little holes. In the end, I bailed out. 
 
Doing all that air sealing properly before somebody sprays a couple feet of cellulose in the attic would have been a good idea, in retrospect.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-3-rules-of-air-sealing/#comment-4928 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 06:16:22 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-3-rules-of-air-sealing#comment-4928 I don’t understand the
I don’t understand the bathtub picture. It does not make sense until I look carefully. It is up-side-down picture. Look at the drain leak stain. It suppose to leak down not up!!!

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-3-rules-of-air-sealing/#comment-4927 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:19:05 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-3-rules-of-air-sealing#comment-4927 OOPS! I forgot an important
OOPS! I forgot an important step: PUT THE INSULATION BACK. Then move to the next area. And do it properly. 
My theory on the extra holes was that someone had just purchased their first electric drill and was slightly giddy.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-3-rules-of-air-sealing/#comment-4926 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:04:04 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-3-rules-of-air-sealing#comment-4926 First rule, when combustion
First rule, when combustion appliances are present, or ventilation in general could be an issue…….Test in, test out!

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-3-rules-of-air-sealing/#comment-4925 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:01:16 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-3-rules-of-air-sealing#comment-4925 John P.: I
John P.: I thought you were already having to look over your shoulder for squirrels.  
 
Bill S.: Great point. I was going to mention accessibility but decided to leave it out to keep the article simpler and leave something for our brilliant commenters. I was also going to mention how a lot of little holes can add up to a really big one. Take the gap between top plates and drywall, for example. An eighth of an inch gap that runs 300 hundred feet is a 3 square foot hole. Or your example of all the extra wiring holes. That’s the first time I’ve heard that one!

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