East Bay Air Sealing Services
Even if your home is fully insulated from the attic down to the crawl space, it still most likely suffers from excessive air leakage that robs energy and harms comfort. Building code enforcement is beginning to embrace the need for sealing air leaks in the home, but this is not yet universal. Conventional thought in the building industry is that insulation is all that is needed to keep a home warm in winter and cool in summer, but fiberglass, the most common insulation material, does not stop air movement. Just like you need a windproof parka over your fleece jacket, insulation does not do its job without a continuous air barrier between the insulation and the inside of the home. In fact, typical homes Hassler tests for air leakage in the Bay Area leak more than twice the amount of air they should!
Even though, standing inside our home, it appears that the drywall makes a continuous seal across our ceilings and the finished floor is continuous, the reality is that the ceiling and floor systems have gaps built in them between framing and finishes, and installing plumbing, electrical, and heat in a home creates additional holes in the air barrier.
Here are some common places where leaks in the air barrier are found:
- Wall “top plates” between the wall framing and the drywall
- Electrical wires where they exit from the wall into the attic or crawlspace
- Electrical connections at light fixtures made inside the attic
- Plumbing supply lines entering a wall through the crawlspace
- Plumbing vents protruding through the wall into the attic
- Drain pipes under bathtubs, toilets, and sinks
- Cut-ins for duct registers
- Dropped cavities above cabinets and fireplaces
- Chases for plumbing, ducts, and other building infrastructure that run from the crawl space all the way up to the attic
All the individual holes from each of these different locations add up to a lot of leakage. In most homes, the amount of leakage from these unintentional sources is equivalent to having a window open all the time! During an energy audit, Hassler tests air leakage using a blower door, and can tell you exactly how much air your house should exchange, how much it actually does, and where excessive or unwanted leakage is occurring.
Not only do these holes leak out the air you pay to heat or cool, they also leak dirty air in from the crawlspace and attic, which could contain fiberglass particles, rat feces, sawdust, mold, asbestos, and other contaminants. By sealing off these leaks, the air inside the home becomes healthier as well as more comfortable and energy efficient.
Air draft sealing is a low-cost project that can be completed usually in a day or two. Crews use expanding foam and rigid materials to cover and seal holes from inside the crawl space and attic. Air sealing should almost always be completed before installing insulation, because insulation can’t do its job well if air is leaking through it, and it’s much easier to complete the air sealing if insulation has been removed from the place where the air sealing needs to occur.
Contact Hassler to see how we can button up your home & make you more comfortable!
The Hassler Difference
Hassler knows that getting the job done right today will lead to customers being our biggest advocates tomorrow.
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Our philosophy on customer service is to not only meet expectations but to exceed them. Whether it is your home heating and cooling, improving your indoor air quality, or scheduling a home energy assessment, we are committed to over-delivering throughout your entire journey with Hassler.
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From our newest team member on up to our leadership and ownership, we are committed to producing the highest level of workmanship - all in an efficient manner. We accomplish this through better training, education, planning, and leadership across all the products and services we provide.
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We are committed to holding ourselves and each other accountable to integrity, customer satisfaction, and peak performance. We are unwavering in our commitment to not only talk about the solution, but to be a part of it.
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Developing long lasting relationships is at the core of our organization. When interacting with a customer or team member, we are committed to building mutual trust and respect. Our reputation is the foundation of the company, and at the end of the day, our word is all we have!
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Through a dedication to training, education and leadership, we will continue to grow to remain the leading HVAC and home performance company in Contra Costa, Alameda, and Marin counties. We are continually honing our craft and challenging ourselves to improve who we are as an organization for what we can become.
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We care deeply about the changing climate here in California, and want to help other Californians reduce their impact on the environment. Hassler places an emphasis on embracing “Green” technologies and processes whenever possible, and reducing energy use.
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“We highly recommend Hassler Heating and AC. Three years ago, we updated our system with a heat pump. The installers were professional, efficient and responsive.”- Diane M.
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“He quickly identified the problem, took time to explain it, answered my questions and got everything in working order under 2 hours that even included a trip back to El Cerrito to get the right part. He was very courteous and respectful.”- Veronica A.
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“He had us up and running very quickly and also was able to make some other recommendations for service and maintenance. He was great, and I will continue to use him and his team for maintenance and repairs.”- Scott L.
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“Hassler Heating went above and beyond customer service! My AC unit started smoking and I called to make an appointment and they were able to fit me into their schedule that day!”- Emily V.
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“They were very efficient as well as pleasant in their interaction with me. They did such a good job that my next-door neighbor, after watching them at work, told me that he has decided to hire your firm to install a new heating system for his house.”- Marilyn B.
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“Chris just came out and inspected a furnace and ducting for me at a property that clients of mine are purchasing in El Cerrito. He was very knowledgable and was sure to take the time to answer all of my questions thoroughly.”- Jeffery S.
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“We have full confidence that we now have a first class heating system that will serve us well in the years to come. We know in the future we will need to replace our roof mounted air conditioner, and we will confidently call on Hassler to do the job.”- Tom R.
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“They squeezed a whole lot of equipment into a tiny attic without a single complaint. They also helped with all of the energy-saving rebates . The estimator, installers, and service guys have been great.”- Sean M.