Insulation & Air Sealing

Some do's, don'ts, tips, and tricks on how to deal with obstructions in wall cavities

How a blower door works, how to set it up, how to use it to find air leaks in a home's envelope, and how to break down the numbers.

This house is superinsulated with airtight construction methods. I was delighted at the opportunity to look inside the walls but depressed at the reason why. 

Batt insulation is by far the easiest insulation to install — poorly. This intro tells the basics of installing it right.

It's easy to air seal the middle of the wall where there are no gaps, cracks, or joints. The edges are a different story, especially when one edge is wood and the other is concrete.

If drywall were clear, we'd see walls get wet daily. Moisture rides on air ...

Regular walls just won't cut it anymore. Higher-achieving energy codes mean higher-performance walls, airtightness targets, and home energy rating system (HERS) scores. Here are six improvement targets to shoot for.