Easy Ways to Detect Air Leaks in Your Home

A leaky house is considerably less energy efficient than a tightly sealed one. Being familiar with how to detect air leaks in your house, sealing those leaks and scheduling a home energy assessment when necessary can help you maintain 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 effective ways for finding air leaks in your house:

• Conduct|Perform|Carry out} a thorough visual inspection, looking for gaps and cracks around windows, doors, electrical outlets and baseboards. Pay particular attention to the corners of rooms, as gaps can often be found there.
• Place your hand around potentially leaky areas on a cold or windy day. If you sense a draft, you’ve discovered an air leak.
• Do a smoke test by lighting an incense stick or smoke pen. Then, slowly move it near the edges of windows, doors and other potential leaky areas. If an air leak exists, the smoke will blow around or get sucked into the gap, revealing the site of the leak. The smoke test is best at finding leaks when carried out on a windy day.
• Employ an infrared thermometer or thermal camera to detect temperature differences in your home. These devices help you locate areas with sizeable temperature variations, which often are caused by air leaks.

Detecting Air Leaks from Outside Your Home

Studying the home’s outdoor structure can also uncover potential leaks. Here are two tips for detecting air leaks from the outside:

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

Sealing Air Leaks

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

• Use caulk to seal small gaps and cracks around windows, doors and other areas where air is escaping. Choose a top-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 guidelines for proper application and curing time.
• Apply weatherstripping to doors and windows to help them close tightly. Different kinds  of weatherstripping are sold in stores, including adhesive-backed foam tape, V-strip and door sweeps. Choose the ideal style for your needs and follow the installation recommendations.
• Use expanding foam to fill and seal more substantial gaps and holes. Expanding foam is available in a can with a spray applicator for simple application in hard-to-reach places. Wear protective gloves and adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines to make sure you stay safe.
• Install insulation to newly sealed walls and attic floors to further cut down on heat transfer. Even when 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 outside doors to prevent drafts. Door sweeps are sold in various materials and styles to fit your needs and aesthetic preferences.

Considering a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment

A home energy assessment is invaluable for spotting hidden air leaks and pinpointing areas of improvement. A professional energy auditor does this inspection, which consists of the following:

• A blower door test includes setting up a temporary door with a sturdy fan over an exterior door opening. The fan pulls air from the house, lowering the interior air pressure and sucking 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 detect temperature discrepancies in the walls, floors and ceilings, revealing invisible air leaks and insulation deficiencies.
• A combustion safety test makes sure your home heating system, water heater and other combustion appliances are operating safely and efficiently, decreasing the risk of potentially deadly 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 performing your own air leak tests is a great jumping off point, talking everything over 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 enhance efficiency and comfort.