Air sealing your attached garage protects your home and keeps it comfortable.
An attached garage can be a wonderful convenience, but it can also lead to a loss of energy and even contribute to toxic fumes entering your home. Air sealing is a simple way to reduce the risk.
Project Overview
Tools and Materials:
- Utility knife
- Drywall saw/zip saw
- Rigid foam board
- Caulk
- Spray foam sealant
- Drill
Safety:
- Gloves
- Safety glasses
- Dust mask/respirator
- Begin by using caulk or spray foam to seal penetrations, such as those caused by electrical and plumbing. Be sure to also carefully seal the bottom portion of any drywall that abuts a conditioned space.
- Remove baseboards and stairs to ensure that gaps have been properly sealed behind them. If stairs cannot be removed, you may also be able to access gaps from an adjoining basement or crawlspace.
- If you have living space over the garage, cut an access strip in the garage ceiling to install air sealing/blocking. This will separate the garage ceiling from the rest of the first-floor ceiling cavities. And once you’ve got the access strip cut, you’ve got a great opportunity to blow in additional insulation if the existing insulation has settled so that it isn’t touching the floor of the living space above the garage.
- Consider adding an exhaust fan in an attached garage that is vented to the outdoors. Including an occupancy sensor can be a good way to help control the fan and ensure it is used only when needed.