Easy Ways to Detect Air Leaks in Your Home

A leaky house is dramatically less energy efficient than a correctly sealed one. Knowing how to detect air leaks in your house, sealing those leaks and scheduling a home energy assessment when necessary can help you maintain a comfortable living environment and reduce your energy bills.

Detecting Air Leaks from Inside Your Home

Initiate your air leak inspection on the interior. Here are four successful methods for looking for air leaks in your house:

• Perform 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 commonly be found there.
• Put your hand near potentially leaky locations on a cold or windy day. If you feel a draft, you’ve found 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 is occurring in this location, the smoke will blow around or get sucked through the gap, showing the site of the leak. The smoke test is best at finding leaks when carried out on a windy day.
• Employ an infrared thermometer or thermal camera to find temperature differences in your home. These tools help you detect locations with major temperature variations, which often indicate air leaks.

Detecting Air Leaks from Outside Your Home

Inspecting the home’s outdoor structure can also reveal potential leaks. Here are two strategies for discovering air leaks from the outside:

• Do a visual inspection, paying close attention to corners and places where different materials meet. Look for gaps or cracks that could create 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 close to a suspected air leak. If there’s a leak, the person inside should feel cold air or moisture entering through the gap.

Sealing Air Leaks

After identifying significant air leaks, it’s time to handle 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. Decide on 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 the best application and curing time.
• Apply weatherstripping to doors and windows to help them close tightly. A variety of  of weatherstripping are available, including adhesive-backed foam tape, V-strip and door sweeps. Choose 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 quick application in hard-to-reach places. Wear protective gloves and adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines 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 external doors to restrict drafts. Door sweeps are offered in various materials and models to suit your requirements and aesthetic preferences.

Considering a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment

A home energy assessment is valuable for finding hidden air leaks and locating areas of improvement. A professional energy auditor does this inspection, which involves the following:

• A blower door test involves putting in a temporary door with a sturdy fan over an exterior door opening. The fan pulls air out of the house, lowering the inside air pressure and drawing in 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 locate temperature inconsistencies in the walls, floors and ceilings, revealing invisible air leaks and insulation gaps.
• A combustion safety test makes certain your home heating system, water heater and other combustion appliances are operating safely and correctly, 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 identify additional energy-saving possibilities.

Schedule a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment

While doing your own air leak tests is a good launching point, working with a professional is far more thorough. Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help you improve your home’s air tightness with a comprehensive home energy assessment and customized solutions to boost performance and comfort.