Many homes, especially older ones, have gaps and cracks that provide a direct pathway for outdoor air to enter the home, and indoor air to escape. This is very inefficient and affects the entire performance of the home. In fact, air leakage can account for 25-45% of the energy used for heating and cooling throughout the year.
Lakewood Home Energy offers professional air sealing services that correct this problem. We are a family-owned energy auditor and insulation company in Central Maine that can help make your home more comfortable, efficient, and affordable to heat. With hundreds of customers serviced statewide, you can count on our specialists to identify air leaks, seal them, and help you qualify for Efficiency Maine weatherization rebates.
What is Air Sealing?
Air sealing is the process of closing any small gaps in a home’s structure that may be allowing air to pass between the indoors and outdoors. Most of the time, gaps are filled with caulk or canned foam by an experienced weatherization or insulation contractor. Air leaks can be present throughout the entire home, but some of the most common locations include:
- Recessed Lighting Fixtures
- Attic Knee Walls
- Attic Spaces
- Attic Access Hatches
- Rim Joists and Sill Plates in the Foundation
- Windows and Doors
- Exterior Walls
Except for noticeable drafts, it’s difficult for a homeowner to spot most air leaks. Your best course of action is to schedule an energy audit with Lakewood Home Energy. Using diagnostic tools, we’ll find exactly where the air leaks are located.
Energy Audits and AssessmentsProblems Air Sealing Solves
When a home has air leaks, energy is going to be wasted. Heated air will escape the home in the winter, and hot air will find its way in during the summer. This causes a variety of problems, including:
Home Discomfort
A leaky home has drafts and makes it harder to maintain a stable temperature.
High Humidity
Humid summer air can enter the home, causing a buildup of moisture that could lead to mold.
High Energy Bills
You’ll need to heat and cool your home more to overcome the constant energy loss.
HVAC System Strain
With so much energy being wasted, your HVAC system has to run longer and harder.
How We Perform Air Sealing
As BPI-certified contractors, Lakewood Home Energy is a performance expert. We take a systematic approach to air sealing to ensure that your home is as energy efficient as possible. We recommend starting your air sealing upgrades with a comprehensive energy audit. During this audit, we’ll perform a blower door test that pressurizes the home and allows us to see where air is leaking. Following this test, we’ll provide you with our findings and an outline of suggested improvements. Once approved by your family, we begin air sealing the residence.
Air sealing pairs well with insulation. When our team uses spray foam to fill air gaps, we accomplish both of those upgrades at the same time. In addition, air sealing and insulation are eligible for Efficiency Maine Rebates of up to $8,000, or 80% of the project cost. Lakewood Home Energy is a Residential Registered Vendor, so we are an official contractor who can perform this rebate work.
Learn About InsulationAir Sealing for New Construction
Maine energy codes require a certain level of air tightness for all new construction and large additions. If you’re a contractor or owner-builder, you’ll need to schedule a blower door test to confirm air tightness and receive your certificate of occupancy. Lakewood Home Energy can help with this.
If your build fails the blower door test, that doesn’t mean you have to start from scratch. Our team can provide air sealing services that seal the building envelope as-is, helping to keep your construction on track.
Schedule a Blower Door Test