How to spot air leakage in your home
It is near impossible to have a perfectly sealed home. Some leakage will occur around doors, windows, and other less obvious gaps. Finding and minimizing them is a cost-effective way to cut heating and cooling costs, improve durability, increase comfort, and create a healthier indoor environment. For an accurate assessment of air leakage in your home, hire a qualified technician to conduct a blower door test. We will also cover some ways to find air leaks yourself.
- Higher electrical bills. Compare your electric bill to the same period a year ago. If there is a big difference, this can be indicative of an air leak.
- See if your system is blowing cool enough. If the air coming out of the vent isn’t cold or warm enough, this can be a big sign of possible leakage.
- Gurgling or rumbling sound. Is your indoor unit noisy? A loud unit is an indicator of a larger leak and often pinpoints refrigerant coil damage.
- Check for cracks & gaps throughout your house. Common spots for air leaks include doors, window frames, electrical outlets, fireplace dampers, attics, baseboards, and recessed lights.
Tips for Sealing Air Leaks
Once air leaks have been identified, it’s time to gather the proper sealing supplies. Caulking, spray foam, and weatherstripping are simple, effective air-sealing techniques that offer quick returns on investment. Caulk and spray foam is generally used for cracks and fixtures such as around door and window frames. Weatherstripping is used to seal components that move, such as doors and windows.
- Install self-adhesive weatherstripping along windows and doors, or a door sweep to seal the gap at the bottom of the door.
- Install foam gaskets behind electrical outlets on walls.
- Use foam sealant on larger gaps around windows, baseboards, and other places where air may leak out.
- Add & improve insulation, especially in attics, basements, & crawl spaces.