Easy Ways to Detect Air Leaks in Your Home
A leaky house is significantly less energy efficient than a properly sealed one. Knowing how to uncover air leaks in your house, sealing those leaks and scheduling a home energy assessment when needed can help you establish a relaxing living environment and lower your energy bills.
Detecting Air Leaks from Inside Your Home
Begin your air leak inspection on the inside. Here are four successful ways for locating air leaks in your house:
- Conduct a detailed visual inspection, looking for gaps and cracks on or near windows, doors, electrical outlets and baseboards. Pay particular attention to the corners of rooms, given that gaps can frequently be found there.
- Hold your hand close to potentially leaky areas on a cold or windy day. If you believe there is a draft, you’ve uncovered an air leak.
- Complete a 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 is occurring in this location, the smoke will blow around or get sucked toward the gap, showing the location of a leak. The smoke test is more effective when done on a windy day.
- Use an infrared thermometer or thermal camera to identify temperature differences in your home. These tools help you detect areas with sizeable temperature variations, which often are caused by air leaks.
Detecting Air Leaks from Outside Your Home
Inspecting the outer structure can also reveal potential leaks. Here are two methods for detecting air leaks from the outside:
- Conduct a visual examination, paying close attention to corners and areas where different materials meet. Search for gaps or cracks that could cause air leaks, as well as deteriorated caulk or weatherstripping and incorrectly sealed vents and exhaust fans.
- Perform the garden hose test on a colder 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 ought to feel cold air or moisture getting into through the gap.
Sealing Air Leaks
After finding significant air leaks, it’s time to address 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 leaking out. Select a top-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 details for proper application and curing time.
- Apply weatherstripping to doors and windows to help them close tightly. Different kinds of weatherstripping are on the market, including adhesive-backed foam tape, V-strip and door sweeps. Select the proper style for your needs and follow the installation guidelines.
- Use expanding foam to fill and seal bigger gaps and holes. Expanding foam comes in a can with a spray applicator for simple application in hard-to-reach spots. Wear protective gloves and follow the manufacturer’s directions to ensure safe use.
- Apply insulation to newly sealed walls and attic floors to further reduce heat transfer. Whether or not you already have some insulation, consider upgrading to a higher R-value or adding more insulation where you need more.
- Install door sweeps along the bottom of external doors to stop drafts. Door sweeps are offered in various materials and models to suit your requirements and aesthetic preferences.
Considering a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment
A home energy assessment is invaluable for finding concealed air leaks and identifying areas of improvement. A professional energy auditor does this inspection, which involves the following:
- A blower door test involves installing a temporary door with a sturdy fan over an exterior door opening. The fan pulls air from the house, lowering the indoor air pressure and pulling in outside air through unsealed openings. This test measures your home’s air tightness and makes thermal camera images show leaks more clearly.
- Infrared imaging helps the energy auditor detect temperature differences in the walls, floors and ceilings, revealing invisible air leaks and insulation gaps.
- A combustion safety test makes certain your home heating system, water heater and other combustion appliances are operating safely and effectively, reducing 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 opportunities.
Schedule a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment
While carrying out your own air leak tests is a good launching 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 an extensive home energy assessment and personalized solutions to maximize efficiency and comfort.