Building a new home here in New England is an exciting fresh start when it comes to home performance and efficiency. This can be especially exciting if you have ever lived in an older home that was leaky, drafty, or hard to heat and cool!
Air sealing is both essential to keeping a home performing at its best, and required by most local building codes. Here is what you need to know about air sealing new homes in Southern New Hampshire, South Mid-Coast Maine, and Northern Massachusetts.
What Is Air Sealing?
Air sealing is the process of finding and closing even the smallest of air leaks in your building structure. This greatly reduces the total amount of cumulative outside air that is allowed to leak in, or inside air that is allowed to leak out. It is an essential step in the construction process as it ensures that your heating and cooling system works efficiently. It also improves your indoor air quality by preventing dust and other outdoor allergens from entering your home.
Do You Need Air Sealing in New Construction Homes?
The simple answer is yes, every new home needs to be air sealed. A home’s “leakiness” is commonly measured in air changes per hour (ACH). The higher the ACH, the more air is exchanged between the indoor living space and the outdoors. A blower door test is used to depressurize a building and measure the ACH using computer sensors connected to a large fan.
What are the Requirements for Air Sealing?
Air sealing requirements can vary by state. In New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts, new constructions must adhere to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The IECC requires that homes meet specific air tightness standards. Builders and contractors must ensure that new constructions meet these standards to comply with local building codes. Failing to do so can result in project delays and additional costs.
Finding the Right Air Sealing Solution
The conventional way to air seal a home is to use infrared camera images and an extensive knowledge of building science to locate and seal holes, using an expanding spray foam material or caulking. However, this process cannot guarantee a building passes a blower door test. It is often the case that multiple blower door tests are required to meet the desired ACH level.
With AeroBarrier, an air sealing product installed by the experts at Northeast Air Sealing, the human component is minimized as leaks are found automatically, using an airborne sealant. And because the ACH is monitored in real-time as the building is air sealed, AeroBarrier allows builders to meet exact air leakage specifications on the very first try. This fast and precise method of air sealing helps prevent any future issues that may arise due to non-compliance with air sealing requirements. Secondly, AeroBarrier installation takes significantly less time compared to traditional air sealing methods. The process takes just 60-90 minutes, allowing for minimal disruption during the construction phase.
Get AeroBarrier from Northeast Air Sealing
If you are interested in utilizing AeroBarrier in your new construction project, get in touch with Northeast Air Sealing. We are the trusted air sealing contractor for multi-family residential, multi-family commercial, and single-family residential new construction projects throughout Northern Mass, Southern NH, and South Mid-Coast Maine.
