Air Seal Assessment

Pressure Boundary Investigation

In order for insulation to be most effective, it should be installed with no gaps, voids or compressions.  Insulation performance is significantly reduced when subjected to wind and air intrusion. 

As a result, a thorough investigation of all the possible thermal bypasses around the envelope of the building must be a part of a good energy assessment so they can be properly addressed. 

A determination should be made as to whether or not there is a proper air barrier in-line with the insulation that is installed.  The air barrier should be contiguous and continuous over the entire thermal boundary and it should be perfectly aligned with the insulation.

Get a home energy audit if this is interesting to you.

The Issue-Recessed Lights are Gateways to the Attic
Recessed lights are attractive lighting fixtures for all around the house and they are quite popular.  Unfortunately, recessed lights can cause some of the worst drafts, comfort issues and high energy bills, particularly if the fixture is remodel grade as shown in the photo.  The recessed lights pictured at the attic floor is a demonstration of how porous these fixtures can be.  You can actually see the light from the room below from the attic. 

Older and less expensive recessed light fixtures (inserted in photo for closer look) have slots and holes for the heat generated by the lightbulb to escape so that it lessens any fire hazard.  The problem is that when recessed lights are in any way connected to the attic as seen here, it creates a gateway or connection to the attic.  Although the attic is covered by the roof, it is outside of the home.

The Solution
The way to eliminate the gateway to the attic through the recessed light is to cut off the problem at the source!  Using a specialized recessed light cover at the attic floor and properly sealing it can transform a drafty spot in a home to a tightly sealed boundary between the comfortable air inside and the hot or cold outside attic air.

Simple Ideas
A properly covered and sealed recessed light will create a more comfortable home and depending on how many need to be sealed, could save a lot of money on energy usage as well.  This air sealing concept can be applied in other ways to several other areas around the house to tighten things up and prevent your heating and cooling unit to die early and cost a lot to do so.