Do You Need More Insulation or Better Air Sealing?
If your home feels drafty, uneven or expensive to heat and cool, adding more insulation may help — but it may not be the whole answer.
Insulation slows heat transfer. Air sealing helps control unwanted air movement through gaps and openings. In many homes, both need to work together.
Insulation and Air Sealing Solve Different Parts of the Problem.
They work together, but they do not do exactly the same thing. Understanding that difference can help explain why simply adding more insulation does not always solve a comfort problem.
What Insulation Does
Insulation helps slow the movement of heat through ceilings, walls, floors and other parts of the building envelope.
- Slows heat transfer
- Helps reduce heat loss in winter
- Helps reduce heat gain in summer
- Supports more consistent indoor temperatures
- Can improve overall building performance
What Air Sealing Does
Air sealing helps close unwanted gaps and openings that allow conditioned indoor air to escape or outdoor air to enter.
- Reduces unwanted drafts
- Controls air leakage through gaps
- Helps limit warm air entering the attic
- Can improve comfort near exterior areas
- Allows insulation to perform more effectively
Many Homes Need Both.
A home can have plenty of insulation and still leak air through gaps and penetrations. It can also be well sealed but have inadequate insulation. Grand Traverse Insulation evaluates both before recommending the right combination of improvements.
Your Home May Be Showing More Than One Clue.
These symptoms can point to insulation, air leakage or a combination of both.
Noticeable Drafts
Air movement near trim, outlets, attic openings or exterior walls can be a sign that unwanted air leakage is part of the problem.
Uneven Temperatures
Rooms that stay colder or hotter than nearby spaces may indicate differences in insulation, air leakage or building conditions.
High Energy Use
Heat moving through poorly insulated areas or escaping through air leaks can both increase the workload on the HVAC system.
Cold Floors
Floors over crawl spaces, garages or other unconditioned areas may be affected by both insulation and air movement.
Ice Dam Conditions
Heat reaching the roof can involve insulation coverage, air leakage and other attic conditions working together.
An Older or Uneven Attic
Low insulation, disturbed materials, gaps and penetrations can all affect how the attic performs.
Start With the Problem, Not the Product.
Grand Traverse Insulation can evaluate insulation, air leakage and other building conditions to help determine which improvements make sense for your home.