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 detect air leaks in your house, sealing those leaks and scheduling a home energy assessment when necessary can help you maintain a comfortable living environment and decrease your energy bills.

Detecting Air Leaks from Inside Your Home

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

• Conduct|Perform|Carry out} a detailed visual inspection, looking for gaps and cracks in and around windows, doors, electrical outlets and baseboards. Pay special attention to the corners of rooms, because gaps can frequently be found there.
• Put your hand close to potentially leaky places on a cold or windy day. If you believe there is a draft, you’ve discovered an air leak.
• Complete 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 is occurring in this location, the smoke will blow around or get sucked through the gap, revealing the leak’s location. The smoke test is more effective when carried out on a windy day.
• Utilize an infrared thermometer or thermal camera to detect temperature differences around your home. These devices help you detect locations with major temperature variations, which often signify air leaks.

Detecting Air Leaks from Outside Your Home

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

• Conduct a visual examination, 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 worn caulk or weatherstripping and improperly sealed vents and exhaust fans.
• Perform the garden hose test on a cool day. This is where someone sprays water from a garden hose onto the outside of the house while another person stands inside where there is a suspected air leak. If there’s a leak, the person inside will more than likely feel cold air or moisture coming through the gap.

Sealing Air Leaks

After pinpointing serious air leaks, it’s time to handle the issue. Here are the most beneficial ways to sealing air leaks in your home:

• Utilize caulk to seal small gaps and cracks around windows, doors and other areas where air is leaking out. Pick a high-quality, long-lasting caulk made for indoor or outdoor use and the specific materials in question 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. Various types  of weatherstripping are on the market, examples include 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 bigger gaps and holes. Expanding foam is sold in a can with a spray applicator for simple application in hard-to-reach areas. Wear protective gloves and adhere to 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 outside doors to restrict drafts. Door sweeps are offered in various materials and models to fit your desires 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 involves the following:

• A blower door test entails setting up a temporary door with a powerful fan over an exterior door opening. The fan pulls air from the house, lowering the inside air pressure and sucking 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 identify temperature discrepancies in the walls, floors and ceilings, revealing invisible air leaks and insulation gaps.
• A combustion safety test ensures your home heating system, water heater and other combustion appliances are operating safely and correctly, reducing the risk of potentially dangerous carbon monoxide buildup.
• A homeowner interview is when the energy auditor looks at your energy usage habits, home maintenance history and comfort obstacles to identify additional energy-saving options.

Schedule a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment

While performing your own air leak tests is a great launching point, working 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 efficiency and comfort.