Air Sealing Services in Chicago

Are you trying to get the most from your HVAC system this year? Whether you have a top-of-the-line high-efficiency system or an aging space heater and a few window units, your heating and cooling solutions can only work if you’re not constantly cycling in new air from outside through a thousand air leaks. That’s why it’s important to understand what air sealing is and what you can do to improve it in your home.

Whether you’re strolling through Millennium Park, enjoying deep-dish pizza at a local favorite or catching a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, the last thing you want to worry about is a drafty home driving up your energy bills.

Air sealing is a critical service for homes and businesses in Chicago, helping to create a more comfortable, energy-efficient indoor environment. By sealing gaps and leaks in your building’s structure, you can keep the cold winds of winter out and the cool air of summer in, allowing you to enjoy everything Chicago has to offer without worrying about skyrocketing energy costs.

Contact ThermaSeal/Lakeside Insulation today for professional assistance with your air sealing project.

What Is Air Sealing?

Air sealing refers to the process of sealing your home so that conditioned air stays inside and the air outside stays outside. It may also encompass sealing off certain parts of your home, such as when you put insulation around exposed ductwork or the floor of your attic, but the principle is the same: keep the climate-controlled air of your home away from the air elsewhere, and thus reduce your need for excessive heating, cooling or moisture management.

Common culprits where air might escape or enter include around windows and doors, attic spaces, ductwork and even electrical outlets. In a city like Chicago, where energy demand fluctuates with the seasons, air sealing is not just about comfort; it’s a vital step in reducing your energy bills and protecting your investment in heating and cooling systems.

Without proper air sealing, your HVAC system has to work overtime to compensate for lost air, resulting in higher utility bills. Over the course of a year, this could mean hundreds of dollars in wasted energy — a significant cost compared to the one-time expense of professional air sealing.

In fact, air sealing can reduce energy usage by up to 30%, depending on the extent of leaks. For Chicago homeowners, that means more money to spend on enjoying the city’s renowned cultural attractions, dining and entertainment instead of on wasted energy.

Additionally, air sealing enhances indoor air quality by preventing pollutants, allergens and moisture from entering your home. This is especially important in Chicago’s urban environment, where air pollution and humidity can affect indoor living conditions.

Why Air Sealing Is Essential for Chicago Homes

In a city that experiences hot, humid summers and icy winters, air sealing is more than a luxury — it’s a necessity. Here’s why:

Chicago winters can bring sub-zero temperatures and icy winds off Lake Michigan. Air sealing ensures your heating system doesn’t have to work harder than necessary, keeping your home warm without excessive energy usage.
During the humid Chicago summers, air sealing prevents cool air from escaping and hot air from entering, allowing your AC to maintain a comfortable temperature while saving on cooling costs.
Chicago’s architecture often includes older homes with unique character but potentially outdated insulation. Air sealing complements insulation upgrades, ensuring your home remains energy-efficient year-round.
Reducing energy waste contributes to a smaller carbon footprint, which is an important consideration in a city like Chicago that values innovation and sustainability.

Air Sealing Improvements

Want to do some do-it-yourself air sealing? If you’re interested in improving energy efficiency in your home, you may have already taken some of these steps.

Caulk around windows, door frames and other gaps between your home’s interior and cold spaces.
Install weatherstripping around doors and windows that open.
Keep your garage door closed, as well as the door between your garage and the rest of your home.
Close the chimney when it’s not in use.
Consider heavy curtains or clingseal for windows to minimize leakage.

If your home is currently poorly sealed, these will give you significant improvements in energy efficiency for minor cost and effort.

Air Sealing From ThermaSeal/Lakeside Insulation

Beyond those steps, air sealing becomes a matter for professionals. There are two key ways ThermaSeal/Lakeside Insulation can help seal your home to minimize the flow of air in and out, and thus control your climate with less wasted energy:

Insulation: Good insulation is critical to maintaining air sealing. Your roof, walls, floors and crawl spaces may seem solid, but they’re quite permeable to heat and cold. By sealing them off with high-R-value insulating materials, you’ll see the biggest potential gains in your HVAC efficiency possible.
Waterproofing: When insulation or another surface of your home gets wet, its R-value decreases. In addition to the direct problems of water damage, increased moisture, etc., this indirect damage to your air sealing will cost you significantly on your energy bills.

ThermaSeal/Lakeside offers a wide selection of insulation and waterproofing technologies appropriate for various applications.

Insulation and waterproofing can benefit every part of your home that interacts with the exterior, including your attic, crawl space, chimney, HVAC ducts, exterior walls, basement walls, floors and more. Failure to insulate or waterproof in any of these areas can cause drafts and wasted energy.

Choose ThermaSeal/Lakeside to Improve Your Air Sealing

Don’t let poor sealing render your home uncomfortable or exposed to the elements. Before water damage or nonstop heating and cooling costs empty out your bank account, invest in improvements to your air sealing with the help of the ThermaSeal/Lakeside team.

Contact us to learn more or schedule service today.