Easy Ways to Detect Air Leaks in Your Home
A leaky house is significantly 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 lower your energy bills.
Detecting Air Leaks from Inside Your Home
Initiate your air leak inspection on the inside of your home. Here are four successful ways for locating air leaks in your house:
- Carry out a thorough visual inspection, looking for gaps and cracks around windows, doors, electrical outlets and baseboards. Pay special attention to the corners of rooms, given that gaps can commonly be found there.
- Put your hand near potentially leaky places on a cold or windy day. If you believe there is a draft, you’ve uncovered an air leak.
- Do a smoke test by lighting an incense stick or smoke pen. Then, slowly move it all around the edges of windows, doors and other potential problem areas. If an air leak exists, the smoke will blow around or get sucked into the gap, revealing the leak’s location. The smoke test is more effective when conducted on a windy day.
- Use an infrared thermometer or thermal camera to find temperature differences around your home. This equipment will help you identify areas with significant temperature variations, which often indicate 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:
- Do a visual examination, paying close attention to corners and locations where different materials meet. Hunt for gaps or cracks that could cause 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 exterior while another person stands inside near a suspected air leak. If there’s a leak, the person inside really should feel cold air or moisture coming through the gap.
Sealing Air Leaks
After identifying significant air leaks, it’s time to handle the issue. Here are the most effective strategies for 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. Choose a quality, long-lasting caulk created for indoor or outdoor use and the specific materials in question to ensure a durable seal. Follow the manufacturer’s directions 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. Select 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 simple application in hard-to-reach spots. Wear protective gloves and adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure you stay safe.
- Add 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 it’s currently lacking.
- Install door sweeps along the bottom of external doors to stop drafts. Door sweeps are available in various materials and styles to fit your requirements and aesthetic preferences.
Considering a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment
A home energy assessment is invaluable for finding hidden air leaks and locating areas of improvement. A professional energy auditor performs this inspection, which consists of 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 out of 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 detect temperature discrepancies in the walls, floors and ceilings, revealing hidden air leaks and insulation deficiencies.
- A combustion safety test ensures your home heating system, water heater and other combustion appliances are operating safely and correctly, decreasing 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 possibilities.
Schedule a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment
While performing your own air leak tests is a great jumping off 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 comprehensive home energy assessment and customized solutions to enhance effectiveness and comfort.