Easy Ways to Detect Air Leaks in Your North America Home

A leaky house is considerably less energy efficient than a properly sealed one. Knowing how to uncover air leaks in your house, sealing those leaks and scheduling a home energy assessment when warranted can help you maintain a comfortable living environment and decrease your energy bills.

Detecting Air Leaks from Inside Your Home

Initiate your air leak inspection on the inside. Here are four reliable techniques for looking for 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 particular attention to the corners of rooms, as gaps can frequently be found there.
• Put your hand around potentially leaky areas on a cold or windy day. If you feel a draft, you’ve uncovered 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 is occurring in this location, the smoke will blow around or get sucked toward the gap, showing the leak’s location. The smoke test is best at finding leaks when done on a windy day.
• Employ an infrared thermometer or thermal camera to identify temperature differences in 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

Inspecting the exterior structure can also reveal potential leaks. Here are two methods for finding air leaks from the outside:

• Perform a visual assessment, paying close attention to corners and places where different materials meet. Hunt for gaps or cracks that could create air leaks, as well as damaged caulk or weatherstripping and improperly sealed vents and exhaust fans.
• Conduct the garden hose test on a chilly 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 entering through the gap.

Sealing Air Leaks

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

• Use caulk to seal small gaps and cracks around windows, doors and other areas where air is escaping. Decide on a top-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 details for correct application and curing time.
• Apply weatherstripping to doors and windows to help them close tightly. Different kinds  of weatherstripping are on the market, such as adhesive-backed foam tape, V-strip and door sweeps. Pick the ideal style for your needs and follow the installation guidelines.
• Use expanding foam to fill and seal more substantial gaps and holes. Expanding foam is sold in a can with a spray applicator for easy application in hard-to-reach places. Wear protective gloves and follow the manufacturer’s directions to make sure you use them carefully.
• Apply insulation to newly sealed walls and attic floors to further minimize heat transfer. Whether or not 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 outside doors to prevent drafts. Door sweeps are made in various materials and models to meet your needs and aesthetic preferences.

Considering a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment

A home energy assessment is invaluable for spotting hidden air leaks and identifying 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 strong fan over an exterior door opening. The fan pulls air out of 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 more pronounced.
• Infrared imaging helps the energy auditor identify temperature discrepancies in the walls, floors and ceilings, revealing hidden 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, reducing the risk of potentially dangerous carbon monoxide buildup.
• A homeowner interview is when the energy auditor discusses your energy usage habits, home maintenance history and comfort issues to learn additional energy-saving possibilities.

Schedule a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment

While doing your own air leak tests is a good jumping off 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 boost effectiveness and comfort.