Every Florida resident is well versed in the rhythms of a Florida summer that include hot, humid days and daily thunderstorms. And in a home that’s inadequately air sealed, the subtropical climate and moisture-rich environment can wreak havoc on your home.
During construction, many Florida homes aren’t adequately sealed to keep out moisture. As a result, gaps and cracks enable moisture infiltration that impacts not only the air quality, efficiency, durability, and comfort of your home, but also increases your energy bills. That’s why ensuring a comprehensive sealing system during construction is crucial for maintaining a comfortable and energy efficient Florida home.
Conquering the Elements: Florida’s Climate Challenges
With summer temperatures that easily soar into the 80’s and 90’s each day and humidity levels exceeding 60%, Florida is hot and sticky. And with 40% of our annual rainfall occurring during the summer months it’s also wet. But that summer humidity and rain do more than frizz your hair and shorten your day at the beach, they also contribute to high moisture levels. And not just during the summer. Our winters are humid too. Even with milder winters, humidity remains a constant challenge and creates ideal conditions for moisture issues in your home.
Breached Defenses: The Impacts of Poor Air Sealing
This continuous moisture isn’t good. Gaps and cracks around each door and window, wires, and pipes in your home allow the hot, humid exterior air to infiltrate your cooled interior of cold air, leading to a host of problems. From mold and mildew growth to material deterioration, the consequences of air leaks and poor air sealing can be costly. You’ll experience higher heating and cooling costs as your HVAC system works harder to maintain a comfortable indoor living space, all while your indoor air quality suffers. In fact, 25-40% of the energy your home uses for heating and cooling can be attributed to air leakage.
Beyond the Blueprint: Recommendations Beyond Code
While meeting the minimum code requirements is essential, going above and beyond can yield even greater benefits for you and your family. Caulking, weatherstripping, and spray foam insulation are all effective air sealing options. With any option or combination of options, be sure to pay special attention to sealing around recessed lights, fans, and wiring/plumbing penetrations to ensure a tight seal.
Adding caulking and weatherstripping around your windows, doors, and other gaps are simple and effective short-term strategies to help reduce air leakage but will need to be repeated every year or so. For a long-term solution, consider spray foam insulation. This expanding insulation foam is designed to seal and insulate your home in one easy step to improve energy efficiency and lower your cooling costs. Combining insulation and air sealing with the installation of spray foam insulation is the most cost-effective way to combat air leaks and create a thermal barrier together.
Cash In on Comfort: Incentives for Efficient Homes
You care about your home, the planet, and your wallet. Thankfully, you have access to a variety of incentives, both federal and local, to reward you for improving your home’s energy efficiency through air sealing, attic insulation, efficient home construction, and more.
Here are a few resources:
- The Allweather Insulation “Energy Programs” page for local and federal incentives.
- The Florida Power and Light rebate page for information on rebates for a new HVAC unit.
- The My Florida Home Energy “Incentives” page for an in depth look at understanding energy efficiency incentives.
Breathe Easy, Save Big: The Benefits of Air Sealing
The benefits of air sealing, especially when combined with the insulating power of spray foam insulation, extend far beyond energy savings. By preventing moisture issues and improving durability, air sealing works to contribute to a healthier indoor environment and greater comfort for you and your family. Choosing to air seal and insulate your home together puts less stress on your HVAC system. This means you can choose to use properly sized HVAC equipment to improve energy efficiency thanks to more efficient operation. You’ll also save money on maintenance costs over time, making air sealing and insulating a smart investment worth a big pat on the back.
Sealed with Success: Securing Your Florida Home’s Future
Since our hot and humid climate isn’t getting any cooler any time soon, proper air sealing is vital for maintaining comfort and efficiency in your home. While building codes set the baseline, additional sealing and insulating measures can further enhance performance and deliver long-term savings. By investing in air sealing services, including the installation of spray foam insulation, you can enjoy a more comfortable living space, improved indoor air quality, and significant energy savings for years to come.
Allweather Insulation is here to help you enjoy the Florida climate year-round with an energy efficient home. We’ve been serving our Tallahassee community and beyond since 1955 and we look forward to serving you too. As an approved insulation provider for the city of Tallahassee, homeowners, business owners, and builders count on us for quality work and workmanship. Contact us today to learn more about our air sealing and insulation services for your new home.
