Air leaks can cause several problems in your home, and these problems will continue unless you identify where the leak is coming from. According to the United States Department of Energy, air leaks originating from doors and windows can increase your heating bills by 10%. Here’s how you can find out where the air leak is coming from.
Inspect Windows and Doors Visually
If you aren’t sure whether air is leaking from your windows or doors, the first thing you will want to do is take a walk around your home. It’s best to start on the outside so you can carefully inspect the caulking between the windows or door frame and the siding. If there appear to be problems with the caulking, you will probably identify some gaps where the air is getting in. Likewise, when you inspect from inside the house, check under the doors. If you manage to see daylight, then the air leak is probably coming from there. From the inside, you can also check the weather stripping around your windows, depending on your window types. If there are gaps, you should easily identify them.
Smoke Test
Air is not visible. This means it can be difficult to identify an air leak unless there is a big enough opening. As such, there is a need to use a more specialized and effective method of testing for air leaks. This is where the smoke test comes in. A smoke test is an effective method of identifying the drafty areas. To conduct the test, you should close all your doors and windows. After that, you should also turn off the water heater, furnace, and all vents. This will enable you to create negative pressure in your home. The last step involves lighting an incense stick and slowly moving it around your windows and doors as the smoke wafts into the air. If you are close to a leak, you will see that the air will be drawn towards the inside of your home.
Hire a Professional
Some door and window types can make it difficult for you to identify air leaks. If you have tried to identify an air leak on your own and failed, the next step should be to hire someone who is trained to identify air leaks. That’s the only way to ensure that your home is absolutely airtight. Not only will the professionals check for drafts, but they will also do a home energy audit for you if you ask them to. You must never wait until the situation is uncontrollable before you hire a professional. The idea is to fix problems before they get too complicated and costly.
These are some of the methods you can employ to try and identify air leaks in your home. Once you find out the source of the air leak, you should close it immediately. Give us a call if you need help identifying any air leaks in your home, and we will come up with a specific solution for your door and window types.
