How Do I Find House Air Leaks?

Air leaks are a source of frustration for every homeowner: they reduce air quality, drive up utility costs, and can even cause interior home damage. The good news is that detecting house air leaks is often easy if you take the right approach. At Western Heating & Air, we recommend homeowners take the following steps to uncover home air leaks.

Take a Close Look at Your Home

You may find house air leaks through a simple visual inspection. The Department of Energy recommends that homeowners inspect parts of the home exterior where different surfaces meet, such as corners and the line between the foundation and siding. Inside your home, you should look at the following things:

• Outlets and light switch plates
• Phone and cable lines
• Wires and pipes
• Fans and vents
• Baseboards
• Door or window frames
• Weather stripping

If you suspect you have a window leak, try shaking the window; if it moves, there is likely a leak. If you don’t find any gaps or cracks, you can move on to a more direct tactic.

Conduct a Pressurization Test

A pressurization test can pinpoint more difficult to detect Orem, UT air leaks. You’ll get best results conducting the test on a windy, cool day. Before you begin, turn off appliances that burn fuel and close all doors, windows, and flues. Next, turn on every exhaust fan that directs air outside.

By doing this, you are creating a pressure differential between your home and the external environment. Next, light an incense stick and hold it near potential leak sources. If the smoke is blown into the room or sucked outside, you have found your leak.

Handling Air Leaks

Many house air leaks can be fixed through caulking, weather-stripping, or even home upgrades. For a small investment of time and effort, you can enjoy long-term energy savings and a more comfortable home environment.

Of course, air leaks aren’t the only problems that can degrade indoor air quality or cause home energy loss. If you need repairs or upgrades to address other home issues, please contact Western Heating & Air today to schedule a consultation.