HVAC Optimization & Air Sealing

Name: OTS Chicago Insulation
Address: 1275 Rand Rd, Des Plaines, IL, 60016, US
Telephone: (855) 511-5652

Insulation alone does not stop drafts — the gaps your heating system is fighting against need to be sealed first.

A home can have insulation in every wall, attic, and crawl space and still lose a significant amount of conditioned air through gaps that insulation material simply cannot address. Gaps around electrical outlets, recessed lighting, plumbing penetrations, attic hatches, and structural connections are all common air leakage points in Chicago-area homes. These openings let outside air in during winter and push conditioned air out year-round. Before any insulation recommendation makes sense, understanding where air is actually moving through the building envelope is the right starting point.

Air sealing works alongside your existing insulation and HVAC system to close the pathways that reduce the efficiency of both. We locate air leakage points throughout the home — from the basement to the attic — and seal them with the appropriate material for each location. Some areas call for spray foam, others for caulk or weatherstripping, and some require more involved work around duct connections and structural gaps. The goal is a building envelope that holds the conditioned air your HVAC system produces long enough to actually heat or cool the space it is meant to serve.

When air sealing is done properly alongside good insulation, the HVAC system runs shorter cycles, the home holds temperature longer between cycles, and the energy cost difference shows up consistently month after month. Homes across Des Plaines, Schaumburg, Naperville, and the surrounding Chicago suburbs that have never had a proper air sealing assessment are almost always losing more energy than the homeowner realizes. Reach out to OTS Chicago Insulation for a free estimate and find out exactly where your home is losing conditioned air and what it will take to stop it.

What We Offer:

Whole-Home Air Leakage Assessment — We identify air leakage points throughout the home from basement to attic before recommending any sealing work. This includes checking around electrical penetrations, plumbing lines, attic hatches, recessed lights, and structural connections that allow air movement between conditioned and unconditioned spaces.
Attic Air Sealing — The attic floor is one of the most common and impactful areas for air sealing in Chicago-area homes. We seal gaps around top plates, light fixtures, and any penetrations that allow warm interior air to escape upward into the attic — which drives heating costs significantly in winter.
Basement & Rim Joist Air Sealing — The connection between the foundation and the floor framing is a consistent source of cold air infiltration. We seal rim joists and basement wall penetrations to stop outside air from entering the lower level and rising into the living space above.
Wall Penetration Sealing — Gaps around pipes, wires, and conduit running through wall cavities allow air to move freely between floors and between interior and exterior spaces. We seal these penetrations to eliminate air pathways that insulation alone does not address.
HVAC Duct Connection Sealing — Leaky duct connections allow conditioned air to escape into unconditioned spaces before it reaches the rooms it is meant to serve. We seal duct connections as part of the air sealing process to improve the overall efficiency of the system.
Attic Hatch & Access Sealing — Attic hatches and pull-down stairs are among the least insulated and most air-leaky components in most homes. We weatherstrip and seal these access points to eliminate a consistent source of heat loss that most homeowners overlook entirely.
Post-Sealing Assessment — After sealing work is complete, we verify the results and confirm that the identified leakage points have been properly addressed. You get a clear picture of what was done and what impact it will have on your home's thermal performance.

Why Choose OTS Chicago Insulation for HVAC Optimization & Air Sealing

Air Sealing and Insulation Treated Together — Most contractors handle insulation and air sealing as separate services. We address both as a connected system because insulation that sits over unsealed gaps never performs at its rated value. Doing both correctly in the right order is what delivers lasting results.
Assessment Drives Every Recommendation — We locate the actual air leakage points in your specific home before recommending any sealing work. The scope of work is based on what your home needs — not on a standard package applied the same way to every property regardless of construction type or age.
Right Material for Each Location — Different air leakage points call for different sealing materials. Spray foam, caulk, weatherstripping, and rigid foam each have appropriate applications. We use the right product in the right location so the seal holds up and performs consistently over time.
Chicago Climate Knowledge — Homes in Des Plaines, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, and across the Chicago metro deal with significant pressure differentials and temperature swings that drive air movement through the building envelope. We understand how those forces affect different home types in this region and where to look first.
One Crew, Full Project — The same team that assesses your home seals it. There are no subcontractors and no gap between what was identified and what gets addressed. Every leakage point we find gets sealed before the job is called complete.