Easy Ways to Detect Air Leaks in Your Home

A leaky house is significantly less energy efficient than a correctly sealed one. Understanding how to detect air leaks in your house, sealing those leaks and scheduling a home energy assessment when warranted can help you establish a relaxing living environment and reduce 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 techniques for finding air leaks in your house:

• Conduct|Perform|Carry out} a comprehensive visual inspection, looking for gaps and cracks on or near windows, doors, electrical outlets and baseboards. Pay extra attention to the corners of rooms, because gaps can commonly be found there.
• Place your hand near potentially leaky places on a cold or windy day. If you feel 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 exists, the smoke will blow around or get sucked through the gap, exposing the leak’s location. The smoke test is most effective when done on a windy day.
• Use an infrared thermometer or thermal camera to find temperature differences around your home. These devices help you identify areas with sizeable temperature variations, which often indicate air leaks.

Detecting Air Leaks from Outside Your Home

Inspecting the outer structure can also expose potential leaks. Here are two methods for detecting air leaks from the outside:

• Conduct a visual inspection, paying close attention to corners and places where different materials meet. Search for gaps or cracks that could cause air leaks, as well as deteriorated caulk or weatherstripping and improperly sealed vents and exhaust fans.
• Conduct 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 near 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 significant air leaks, it’s time to address the issue. Here are the most effective strategies 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. Select a high-quality, long-lasting caulk made for indoor or outdoor use and the specific materials you’re using 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, examples include adhesive-backed foam tape, V-strip and door sweeps. Choose the appropriate style for your needs and follow the installation guidelines.
• Use expanding foam to fill and seal bigger gaps and holes. Expanding foam is available in a can with a spray applicator for simple application in hard-to-reach areas. Wear protective gloves and stick to the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure you stay safe.
• Add insulation to newly sealed walls and attic floors to further reduce 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 stop drafts. Door sweeps are sold in various materials and models to fit your requirements and aesthetic preferences.

Considering a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment

A home energy assessment is useful for spotting concealed air leaks and locating areas of improvement. A professional energy auditor performs this inspection, which consists of the following:

• A blower door test includes 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 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 identify temperature discrepancies in the walls, floors and ceilings, revealing hidden 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, lowering the risk of potentially dangerous carbon monoxide buildup.
• A homeowner interview is when the energy auditor analyzes your energy usage habits, home maintenance history and comfort issues to identify additional energy-saving possibilities.

Schedule a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment

While doing your own air leak tests is a great launching 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 a detailed home energy assessment and personalized solutions to enhance effectiveness and comfort.