A leaky house is dramatically less energy efficient than a tightly sealed one. Understanding how to uncover air leaks in your house, sealing those leaks and scheduling a home energy assessment when necessary can help you maintain a cozy living environment and reduce your energy bills.
Detecting Air Leaks from Inside Your Home
Begin your air leak inspection on the interior. Here are four effective techniques for locating air leaks in your house:
- Conduct|Perform|Carry out]13] a thorough visual inspection, looking for gaps and cracks in and around windows, doors, electrical outlets and baseboards. Pay extra attention to the corners of rooms, as gaps can commonly be found there.
- Put your hand near potentially leaky locations 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 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 toward the gap, showing the leak’s location. The smoke test is more effective when performed on a windy day.
- Employ an infrared thermometer or thermal camera to identify temperature differences in the different areas of your home. These tools help you locate rooms with significant temperature variations, which often indicate air leaks.
Detecting Air Leaks from Outside Your Home
Examining the exterior structure can also uncover 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 worn caulk or weatherstripping and incorrectly 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 building's exterior 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 getting into through the gap.
Sealing Air Leaks
After identifying major air leaks, it’s time to handle the issue. Here are the most beneficial ways to seal air leaks in your home:
- Utilize caulk to seal small gaps and cracks around windows, doors and other areas where air is getting out of the home. Pick a top-quality, long-lasting caulk designed for indoor or outdoor use and the specific materials you're using to ensure a durable seal. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for the best 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 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 places. Wear protective gloves and adhere to the manufacturer’s directions to make sure you stay safe.
- Apply insulation to newly sealed walls and attic floors to further minimize 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.
- Put door sweeps along the bottom of exterior doors to restrict drafts. Door sweeps are sold in various materials and models to meet your requirements and aesthetic preferences.
Considering a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment
A home energy assessment is useful for identifying hidden air leaks and pinpointing areas of improvement. A professional energy auditor does this inspection, which involves the following:
- A blower door test includes setting up a temporary door with a sturdy fan over an exterior door opening. The fan pulls air away from the house, lowering the interior 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 deficiencies.
- A combustion safety test makes certain your home heating system, water heater and other combustion appliances are operating safely and effectively, 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 obstacles to spot additional energy-saving possibilities.
Schedule a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment
While performing your own air leak tests is a good starting point, partnering 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 personalized solutions to boost effectiveness and comfort.