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Review Us on Google Modern HVAC systems can be extremely efficient, providing outstanding heating and cooling at a low cost. No matter how efficient your HVAC system, however, if your home’s building envelope is faulty, the equipment won’t be able to heat or cool properly. Maintaining expected HVAC system efficiency and indoor comfort requires making sure you have a tight envelope.
What Is a Building Envelope?
The building envelope isn’t an actual physical object itself; it refers to the concept of how well sealed your home is against air leaks, energy loss and moisture infiltration. It has several physical components, including insulation, weatherstripping and caulking, but the envelope as a whole is the cumulative effect of how these components keep your home’s interior comfortable and dry.
In a home with a faulty envelope, it will be difficult to maintain indoor temperatures at the level you prefer. Conditioned air will be lost and HVAC equipment will have to work harder to keep your living environment comfortable. This leads to wasted energy and higher heating and cooling bills.
Envelope Components
To maintain a well-sealed home envelope, pay attention to the seals at four main points: walls, floors, foundation and roof. Air and energy leaks can occur at any or all of these points, degrading the building’s seal, causing air loss, and driving up monthly energy bills.
Maintaining the Envelope
You can keep your home’s envelope intact and working properly by:
- Adding insulation to walls, floors and ceilings where insulation levels are low or where heat loss occurs.
- Sealing around window panes or glass in doors with silicone caulking.
- Sealing around window and door frames and casings with latex caulking or other appropriate material.
- Sealing ductwork and ensuring all sections fit tightly together.
Learn more about how your home’s HVAC system is impacted by the building envelope by contacting Conditioned Air, Texas at (281) 561-6911, or contact us learn more about our other services.