How do you find an air leak in your home?
When trying to find where an air leak is in your home or building, you need to do a full inspection. You may know for sure there is a window or a door, but you can never be so sure there isn't another area that heavily impacts your energy costs. Those sneaky hidden leaks can sometimes be the most costly, so we recommend a thorough inspection.
How to start?
We recommend going outside of your home and inspect the exterior. To do this, you want to identify where two different building materials meet:
All exterior corners
Outdoor water faucets
Where siding and chimneys meet
Places where the foundation and the bottom of exterior brick or siding meet.
Next, inspect the interior!
Inside your home, inspect the following areas for any cracks and gaps which may be causing air leaks:
Electrical outlets
Switchplates
Door and window frames
Electrical and gas service entrances
Baseboards
Weatherstripping around doors
Fireplace dampers
Attic hatches
Wall- or window-mounted air conditioners.
Cable TV and phone lines
Where dryer vents pass through walls
Vents and fans.
Also, look for gaps around pipes and wires, foundation seals, and mail slots. Check if the caulking and weather stripping are applied properly, leaving no holes or cracks, and are in good condition. A commonplace for leaks is Doors and Windows. Assess the caulking around doors and windows, and see whether exterior storm doors and primary doors seal tightly.
Inspect windows and doors for air leaks. See if you can rattle them since movement means possible air leaks. If you can see daylight around a door or window frame, then the door or window leaks. You can usually seal these leaks with caulking or weatherstripping. You can also go as far as replacing your windows and doors if they cannot close tightly. If new factory-made doors or windows are too costly, you can install low-cost plastic sheets over the windows to get by too.
Get a Free Quote!
Overall, we recommend doing this assessment. If you are on the fence regarding new insulation and begin noticing a few areas that need adjustment, consult a professional for a free quote. We are always happy to come out and perform an energy audit that will tell you what you need and what we can provide.
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