Explainer
Calgary and area · Fully licensed and insured
Air sealing in Calgary: what it is and who to call
Air sealing closes the gaps that let heated air escape from a Calgary home. It is not a service Framework Pest offers. We seal pest entry points, not for an energy rating; for air sealing, we refer you to a building envelope or energy specialist.
How air leaks happen
Warm air rises and pushes out through the top of the house, pulling cold air in low. Calgary’s Chinook swings can take a wall through several freeze-thaw cycles in one winter, and each cycle works sealant and trim joints loose. A joint that was tight in July can be open by February.
Why doing it wrong is a problem
Sealing without a plan for ventilation and vapour can trap moisture. In a cold climate that can show up as condensation, attic frost or mould. A specialist looks at the whole house before sealing.
What a pro does
- Runs a blower door test to measure leakage.
- Finds the leaks, often with smoke or a thermal camera.
- Seals in order of impact, typically attic penetrations and rim joists first.
- Checks ventilation and retests.
This describes the specialist’s work, not ours.
What you can do today
- ☐ Feel for drafts at outlets on exterior walls and at the attic hatch.
- ☐ Weatherstrip the attic hatch.
- ☐ Check that bath fans vent outside.
- ☐ Book an energy audit before any major sealing.
Same gaps, two problems
If an auditor finds gaps where mice get in, call us for those; for the rest, we refer you to a building envelope or energy specialist.
Background reading: exclusion vs bait stations.
Related reading
Questions
What is air sealing?
It means closing the gaps in a house's envelope that leak heated air, such as attic penetrations, rim joists and around windows and doors. It is planned around how the whole house handles air and moisture.
Can air sealing cause problems?
Yes, if done wrong. Sealing without thinking about ventilation and vapour can trap moisture, which can lead to condensation, frost in the attic or mould. That is why it should be planned by someone who looks at the whole envelope.
Does Framework Pest do air sealing?
No. We seal pest entry points, not for an energy rating. For air sealing, we refer you to a building envelope or energy specialist.
Does air sealing keep mice out?
There is overlap. Some gaps leak air and let mice in, and we close those as pest entry points. But air sealing for energy is a different job.
Where do I start?
With an energy audit or a building envelope assessment. A specialist can measure leakage, usually with a blower door test, and tell you what to seal first.
Show us the gap.
Text a photo, call, or request a written quote.