Easy Ways to Detect Air Leaks in Your North America Home

A leaky house is dramatically less energy efficient than a properly sealed one. Understanding how to find air leaks in your house, sealing those leaks and scheduling a home energy assessment when warranted can help you establish 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 ways for locating air leaks in your house:

Conduct|Perform|Carry out]13] a detailed visual inspection, looking for gaps and cracks in and around windows, doors, electrical outlets and baseboards. Pay special attention to the corners of rooms, because gaps can commonly be found there.
Put your hand close to potentially leaky areas on a cold or windy day. If you believe there is 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 trouble spots. If an air leak is occurring in this location, the smoke will blow around or get sucked through the gap, showing the leak’s location. The smoke test is more effective when conducted on a windy day.
Employ an infrared thermometer or thermal camera to detect temperature differences in your home. These devices help you detect rooms with sizeable temperature variations, which often signify air leaks.

Detecting Air Leaks from Outside Your Home

Inspecting the home's outdoor structure can also uncover potential leaks. Here are two tips for finding air leaks from the outside:

Do a visual examination, 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 chilly day. This is where someone sprays water from a garden hose onto the outside of the house while another person stands inside where there is a suspected air leak. If there’s a leak, the person inside really should feel cold air or moisture entering through the gap.

Sealing Air Leaks

After finding serious air leaks, it’s time to handle the issue. Here are the most beneficial strategies for sealing air leaks in your home:

Apply caulk to seal small gaps and cracks around windows, doors and other areas where air is escaping. Select a top-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 instructions 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. Choose the proper style for your needs and follow the installation guidelines.
Use expanding foam to fill and seal bigger gaps and holes. Expanding foam is available in a can with a spray applicator for easy application in hard-to-reach spots. Wear protective gloves and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure you use them carefully.
Install 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 outside doors to stop drafts. Door sweeps are available in various materials and designs to suit your desires and aesthetic preferences.

Considering a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment

A home energy assessment is invaluable for finding concealed air leaks and pinpointing areas of improvement. A professional energy auditor carries out this inspection, which involves the following:

A blower door test entails setting up 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 more pronounced.
Infrared imaging helps the energy auditor detect temperature discrepancies in the walls, floors and ceilings, revealing hidden air leaks and insulation deficiencies.
A combustion safety test makes sure your home heating system, water heater and other combustion appliances are operating safely and correctly, lowering the risk of potentially harmful carbon monoxide buildup.
A homeowner interview is when the energy auditor analyzes your energy usage habits, home maintenance history and comfort issues to identify additional energy-saving options.

Schedule a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment

While carrying out your own air leak tests is a good launching 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 tailored solutions to boost effectiveness and comfort.