Easy Ways to Detect Air Leaks in Your Home

A leaky house is dramatically less energy efficient than a tightly sealed one. Being familiar with how to find air leaks in your house, sealing those leaks and scheduling a home energy assessment when necessary can help you establish a cozy living environment and reduce your energy bills.

Detecting Air Leaks from Inside Your Home

Begin your air leak inspection on the inside. Here are four reliable techniques for looking for air leaks in your house:

  • Conduct a thorough visual inspection, looking for gaps and cracks in and around windows, doors, electrical outlets and baseboards. Pay particular attention to the corners of rooms, because gaps can often be found there.
  • Hold your hand close to potentially leaky areas 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 most effective when carried out on a windy day.
  • Utilize an infrared thermometer or thermal camera to identify temperature differences in your home. This equipment will help you locate sections of your home with sizeable temperature variations, which often are caused by air leaks.

Detecting Air Leaks from Outside Your Home

Examining the exterior structure can also expose potential leaks. Here are two strategies for detecting air leaks from the outside:

  • Perform a visual inspection, paying close attention to corners and locations where different materials meet. Look for gaps or cracks that could lead to air leaks, as well as deteriorated caulk or weatherstripping and incorrectly sealed vents and exhaust fans.
  • Do the garden hose test on a cool day. This is where someone sprays water from a garden hose onto the building’s exterior while another person stands inside close to a suspected air leak. If there’s a leak, the person inside ought to feel cold air or moisture coming through the gap.

Sealing Air Leaks

After finding major air leaks, it’s time to address the issue. Here are the most beneficial 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 leaking out. Decide on a high-quality, long-lasting caulk designed for indoor or outdoor use and the specific materials you are trying to seal to ensure a durable seal. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for correct application and curing time.
  • Apply weatherstripping to doors and windows to help them close tightly. A variety of  of weatherstripping are on the market, including adhesive-backed foam tape, V-strip and door sweeps. Choose the appropriate style for your needs and follow the installation recommendations.
  • Use expanding foam to fill and seal larger gaps and holes. Expanding foam comes in a can with a spray applicator for simple application in hard-to-reach areas. Wear protective gloves and follow the manufacturer’s directions to make sure you use them carefully.
  • Add 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 your current level is inadequate.
  • Add door sweeps along the bottom of exterior doors to prevent drafts. Door sweeps are sold in various materials and styles to suit your requirements and aesthetic preferences.

Considering a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment

A home energy assessment is invaluable for finding sneaky air leaks and locating areas of improvement. A professional energy auditor performs this inspection, which consists of the following:

  • A blower door test entails setting up a temporary door with a strong fan over an exterior door opening. The fan pulls air from the house, lowering the inside air pressure and drawing in outside air through unsealed openings. This test measures your home’s air tightness and makes thermal camera images more pronounced.
  • Infrared imaging helps the energy auditor locate temperature inconsistencies in the walls, floors and ceilings, revealing invisible air leaks and insulation inadequacies.
  • A combustion safety test makes sure your home heating system, water heater and other combustion appliances are operating safely and efficiently, reducing the risk of potentially deadly carbon monoxide buildup.
  • A homeowner interview is when the energy auditor discusses your energy usage habits, home maintenance history and comfort issues to learn additional energy-saving opportunities.

Schedule a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment

While doing your own air leak tests is a good starting point, working with a professional is far more thorough. Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help you improve your home’s air tightness with a detailed home energy assessment and customized solutions to boost efficiency and comfort.

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