Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
foam. Spray foam is a great way to seal small gaps and holes. It only takes a small
amount since it expands as it cures. In the crawlspace, check for excessive damp-
ness. You may need to add a new vapor barrier to keep moisture away from the
home. Check the weather stripping around your attached garage door. You may also
find that your garage door no longer fits tightly at the bottom due to your garage
floor settling in spots. Try adding additional weather stripping to the bottom or lay-
ing something along the floor to seal the gap between the door and floor.
There are many types of weather stripping used to seal leaks. A rigid-jamb for
windows and doors is a solid piece that you nail to the window or door frame. V-
strips are adhesive backed rolls of material used to seal small gaps in sliding win-
dows and doors. Adhesive backed foam tape comes in all sizes and shapes to fit the
particular situation you need to seal. These do not last as long as other more durable
types of weather stripping. Interlocking metal comes in two pieces, one attaches to
the door and one to the jamb or threshold. When closed the two pieces interlock to
form a seal. These may be difficult to install. You can use door sweeps to seal the
area under a door that does not fit close to the threshold or floor. They attach to the
bottom of the door and are susceptible to coming loose over time. Be sure to use
plenty of screws when attaching them to the door [11].
Sealing the home is an important first step and you can do it without spending
a large sum of money. Be diligent in your efforts and seek out every “nook and
cranny” to find the gaps and holes that may be allowing air in or out of your home.
Only after you have successfully sealed your home should you begin the task of
insulating.
5.2
Insulate
The most important areas to insulate in the home are the attic and the crawlspace
(or basement). Hot air accumulates in the attic and heats the ceiling by conduc-
tion.
Conduction
is the movement of heat through solid materials. This makes the
upstairs rooms very uncomfortable in the summer time. You must insulate against
that. Heat in the living area also tries to move down through the floor by conduction.
Heat doesn't only rise. Insulating under the floor is a great idea as well [12].
Insulating the hot water pipes under the house will help deliver hot water to the
faucets more efficiently. Ducts that travel through unconditioned spaces (crawl-
spaces, garages and attics) need plenty of insulation. Newer homes require R-8 in-
sulation on ductwork but older homes may be seriously deficient in insulating value.
Only after you have sealed all ductwork leaks is it appropriate to add insulation to
the ducts. Duct insulation comes in three basic forms. One is the duct board which
is a rigid flat piece of insulation typically used around the large rectangular return
air ducts. Duct wrap comes in rolls and wraps around the ducts held in place with
adhesive tape and plastic zip ties. Flexible duct insulation sleeves fit over the ducts
in one piece. You must disconnect the ducts to slip the sleeve over the outside [13].
