Air infiltration is the amount of air leaking in and out of a building through cracks in walls, ceilings, windows and doors. It results from differential indoor and outdoor pressures, such as when wind – even a gentle breeze – is blowing up against your house. You experience air infiltration whenever you feel a cold draft along the floor on a winter day. The cold draft is a result of unequal air pressures penetrating the air barrier and cracks in your exterior walls. Even though air barriers are installed underneath the exterior cladding of today’s homes, unfortunately they still allow some air to infiltrate.
You may have heard the sayings, “airtight buildings are unhealthy” or “your home needs to breathe.” These proponents of “Good Old Fashioned” building construction do not realize that homes with higher rates of air leakage are less energy efficient and are still prone to moisture and mold damage.
Pages
Part 1 - R-Values in Today's Building Codes
Part 2 - Designing R-Values: In the Lab
Part 3 - Air Infiltration
Part 4 - "Real Time" R-Values
Part 5 - Oak Ridge National Laboratory Study
Part 6 - Brock University Study
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