Easy Ways to Detect Air Leaks in Your Home

A leaky house is considerably 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 warranted can help you maintain a comfy 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 successful methods for finding air leaks in your house:

• Carry out a comprehensive 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.
• Hold your hand near 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 near the edges of windows, doors and other potential leaky areas. If an air leak exists, the smoke will blow around or get sucked through the gap, showing the site of the leak. The smoke test is best at finding leaks when conducted on a windy day.
• Utilize an infrared thermometer or thermal camera to identify temperature differences in the different areas of your home. This equipment will help you detect rooms with major 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 strategies for finding air leaks from the outside:

• Do a visual examination, paying close attention to corners and places where different materials meet. Hunt for gaps or cracks that could cause air leaks, as well as worn caulk or weatherstripping and poorly sealed vents and exhaust fans.
• Do the garden hose test on a colder 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 should feel cold air or moisture getting into through the gap.

Sealing Air Leaks

After finding serious air leaks, it’s time to handle 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 leaking out. Choose a quality, long-lasting caulk created 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. Various types  of weatherstripping are available, examples include adhesive-backed foam tape, V-strip and door sweeps. Select the proper 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 quick application in hard-to-reach areas. Wear protective gloves and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to make sure you stay safe.
• Install insulation to newly sealed walls and attic floors to further reduce 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.
• Install door sweeps along the bottom of exterior doors to stop drafts. Door sweeps are sold in various materials and designs to meet your requirements 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 performs this inspection, which involves the following:

• A blower door test includes putting in a temporary door with a sturdy fan over an exterior door opening. The fan pulls air away from the house, lowering the inside air pressure and pulling in 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 locate 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 harmful carbon monoxide buildup.
• A homeowner interview is when the energy auditor analyzes your energy usage habits, home maintenance history and comfort issues to spot additional energy-saving possibilities.

Schedule a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment

While doing your own air leak tests is a good launching point, talking everything over 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 customized solutions to boost effectiveness and comfort.