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 uncover air leaks in your house, sealing those leaks and scheduling a home energy assessment when necessary can help you create a cozy living environment and decrease your energy bills.

Detecting Air Leaks from Inside Your Home

Initiate your air leak inspection on the inside of your home. Here are four reliable techniques for finding air leaks in your house:

• Conduct a thorough visual inspection, looking for gaps and cracks around windows, doors, electrical outlets and baseboards. Pay extra attention to the corners of rooms, as gaps can frequently be found there.
• Put your hand close to potentially leaky locations on a cold or windy day. If you feel a draft, you’ve uncovered an air leak.
• Perform the smoke test by lighting an incense stick or smoke pen. Then, slowly move it around the edges of windows, doors and other potential leaky areas. If an air leak is present, the smoke will blow around or get sucked through the gap, exposing the site of the leak. 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 around your home. This equipment will help you detect areas with major temperature variations, which often signify air leaks.

Detecting Air Leaks from Outside Your Home

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

• Perform a visual examination, paying close attention to corners and locations where different materials meet. Search for gaps or cracks that could lead to air leaks, as well as deteriorated caulk or weatherstripping and improperly sealed vents and exhaust fans.
• Do 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 ought to feel cold air or moisture entering through the gap.

Sealing Air Leaks

After pinpointing major air leaks, it’s time to deal with the issue. Here are the best ways to sealing air leaks in your home:

• Apply caulk to seal small gaps and cracks around windows, doors and other areas where air is leaking out. Decide on a high-quality, long-lasting caulk made for indoor or outdoor use and the specific materials you are trying to seal to ensure a durable seal. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for proper application and curing time.
• Apply weatherstripping to doors and windows to help them close tightly. Various types  of weatherstripping are available, such as adhesive-backed foam tape, V-strip and door sweeps. Select the appropriate style for your needs and follow the installation recommendations.
• Use expanding foam to fill and seal larger gaps and holes. Expanding foam is sold 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 minimize heat transfer. Even when you already have some insulation, consider upgrading to a higher R-value or adding more insulation where you need more.
• Put door sweeps along the bottom of external doors to restrict drafts. Door sweeps are made 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 concealed air leaks and locating areas of improvement. A professional energy auditor performs this inspection, which involves the following:

• A blower door test involves installing a temporary door with a sturdy fan over an exterior door opening. The fan pulls air away 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 show leaks more clearly.
• Infrared imaging helps the energy auditor detect temperature inconsistencies in the walls, floors and ceilings, revealing unseen air leaks and insulation gaps.
• A combustion safety test makes sure your home heating system, water heater and other combustion appliances are operating safely and effectively, reducing the risk of potentially harmful carbon monoxide buildup.
• A homeowner interview is when the energy auditor looks at your energy usage habits, home maintenance history and comfort challenges to spot additional energy-saving possibilities.

Schedule a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment

While carrying out your own air leak tests is a good starting 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 personalized solutions to maximize performance and comfort.