Easy Ways to Detect Air Leaks in Your North America Home

A leaky house is significantly less energy efficient than a properly sealed one. Being familiar with how to uncover air leaks in your house, sealing those leaks and scheduling a home energy assessment when needed can help you maintain a comfy living environment and reduce your energy bills.

Detecting Air Leaks from Inside Your Home

Begin your air leak inspection on the inside of your home. Here are four reliable methods for locating air leaks in your house:

Conduct|Perform|Carry out]13] a comprehensive visual inspection, looking for gaps and cracks in and around windows, doors, electrical outlets and baseboards. Pay special attention to the corners of rooms, as gaps can often be found there.
Place 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.
Do a 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 occurring in this location, the smoke will blow around or get sucked toward the gap, revealing the location of a leak. The smoke test is best at finding leaks when performed on a windy day.
Employ an infrared thermometer or thermal camera to detect temperature differences in your home. This equipment will help you identify sections of your home with major temperature variations, which often signify air leaks.

Detecting Air Leaks from Outside Your Home

Studying the outer structure can also reveal potential leaks. Here are two tips for finding air leaks from the outside:

Perform a visual assessment, paying close attention to corners and areas where different materials meet. Look for gaps or cracks that could lead to air leaks, as well as damaged caulk or weatherstripping and poorly sealed vents and exhaust fans.
Perform the garden hose test on a cool day. This is where someone sprays water from a garden hose onto the exterior while another person stands inside where there is a suspected air leak. If there’s a leak, the person inside ought to feel cold air or moisture coming through the gap.

Sealing Air Leaks

After finding serious air leaks, it’s time to address the issue. Here are the best 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 escaping. Pick a quality, long-lasting caulk intended for indoor or outdoor use and the specific materials you're using 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. A variety of of weatherstripping are on the market, including 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 larger 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 directions to ensure safe use.
Apply 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 outside doors to restrict drafts. Door sweeps are offered in various materials and designs to suit your requirements and aesthetic preferences.

Considering a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment

A home energy assessment is invaluable for finding sneaky 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 strong fan over an exterior door opening. The fan pulls air from the house, lowering the interior air pressure and drawing in 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 locate temperature inconsistencies in the walls, floors and ceilings, revealing unseen 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 efficiently, reducing the risk of potentially deadly carbon monoxide buildup.
A homeowner interview is when the energy auditor looks at your energy usage habits, home maintenance history and comfort challenges to identify additional energy-saving possibilities.

Schedule a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment

While doing your own air leak tests is a great starting 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 an extensive home energy assessment and personalized solutions to enhance performance and comfort.