Easy Ways to Detect Air Leaks in Your Home

A leaky house is significantly less energy efficient than a correctly sealed one. Being familiar with how to find air leaks in your house, sealing those leaks and scheduling a home energy assessment when needed can help you create a comfy living environment and decrease your energy bills.

Detecting Air Leaks from Inside Your Home

Initiate your air leak inspection on the interior. Here are four reliable methods for locating air leaks in your house:

• Conduct|Perform|Carry out} a detailed visual inspection, looking for gaps and cracks around windows, doors, electrical outlets and baseboards. Pay particular attention to the corners of rooms, given that gaps can commonly be found there.
• Hold your hand around potentially leaky places on a cold or windy day. If you sense a draft, you’ve found an air leak.
• Perform the smoke test by lighting an incense stick or smoke pen. Then, slowly move it around the edges of windows, doors and other potential trouble spots. If an air leak exists, the smoke will blow around or get sucked toward the gap, revealing the leak’s location. The smoke test is more effective when done on a windy day.
• Utilize an infrared thermometer or thermal camera to identify temperature differences in your home. These devices help you detect areas with significant temperature variations, which often indicate air leaks.

Detecting Air Leaks from Outside Your Home

Examining the outer structure can also reveal potential leaks. Here are two strategies for discovering air leaks from the outside:

• Perform a visual inspection, paying close attention to corners and locations where different materials meet. Hunt for gaps or cracks that could cause air leaks, as well as deteriorated caulk or weatherstripping and improperly sealed vents and exhaust fans.
• Conduct the garden hose test on a chilly day. This is where someone sprays water from a garden hose onto the outside of the house while another person stands inside near a suspected air leak. If there’s a leak, the person inside ought to feel cold air or moisture entering through the gap.

Sealing Air Leaks

After pinpointing serious air leaks, it’s time to deal with the issue. Here are the most effective strategies for sealing air leaks in your home:

• Apply caulk to seal small gaps and cracks around windows, doors and other areas where air is escaping. Select a high-quality, long-lasting caulk developed for indoor or outdoor use and the specific materials you’re using to ensure a durable seal. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for correct application and curing time.
• Apply weatherstripping to doors and windows to help them close tightly. Different kinds  of weatherstripping are available, examples include adhesive-backed foam tape, V-strip and door sweeps. Choose the correct style for your needs and follow the installation instructions.
• Use expanding foam to fill and seal more substantial gaps and holes. Expanding foam comes in a can with a spray applicator for quick application in hard-to-reach spots. Wear protective gloves and follow the manufacturer’s directions to ensure safe use.
• Install insulation to newly sealed walls and attic floors to further cut down on heat transfer. Even if you already have some insulation, consider upgrading to a higher R-value or adding more insulation where you need more.
• Put door sweeps along the bottom of exterior doors to stop drafts. Door sweeps are offered in various materials and designs to suit your desires and aesthetic preferences.

Considering a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment

A home energy assessment is invaluable for identifying sneaky air leaks and identifying areas of improvement. A professional energy auditor does this inspection, which includes the following:

• A blower door test includes putting in a temporary door with a powerful fan over an exterior door opening. The fan pulls air away from the house, lowering the interior air pressure and drawing in outside air through unsealed openings. This test measures your home’s air tightness and makes thermal camera images easier to read.
• Infrared imaging helps the energy auditor locate temperature differences in the walls, floors and ceilings, revealing invisible air leaks and insulation deficiencies.
• A combustion safety test makes certain your home heating system, water heater and other combustion appliances are operating safely and efficiently, lowering the risk of potentially dangerous carbon monoxide buildup.
• A homeowner interview is when the energy auditor analyzes your energy usage habits, home maintenance history and comfort obstacles to spot additional energy-saving options.

Schedule a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment

While carrying out your own air leak tests is a good jumping off point, partnering with a professional is far more thorough. Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help you improve your home’s air tightness with an extensive home energy assessment and tailored solutions to boost effectiveness and comfort.