HOW TO DETECT AIR LEAKS: 10 SIMPLE DIY TESTS AND SOLUTIONS
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Have you ever wondered why your home can’t seem to stay warm or cool? While sometimes old equipment is to blame, air leaks are another common culprit that can crop up right beneath your nose…literally!
Air leaks are small cracks or gaps in your home that allow indoor air to leak out. They make it harder for your heating and cooling systems to do their jobs and waste your hard-earned money over time. Fortunately, learning how to detect air leaks is easy with a few tools and techniques.
Our guide breaks down the most common sources of air leaks, simple DIY tests, and when to call a professional. If you’d rather get a technician on the case now, Conway Services can send an expert to your home for a professional inspection.
WHAT IS AN AIR LEAK?
An air leak is also called a draft or a cold spot. Anywhere your indoor air temperature fluctuates, you likely have a leak that needs your attention.
Other common symptoms of air leaks include:
Variations in humidity (such as the air in your home becoming strangely dry or far too moist)
Dust problems
Unusually high energy bills
WHY ARE AIR LEAKS A PROBLEM?
Air leaks compromise your home’s comfort by allowing your warm or cool air to seep out. If you have an air leak, you may find you have to keep turning your HVAC or furnace back on because you can’t maintain a consistent temperature.
That puts extra strain on your heating and cooling systems by making them work too hard, too often. You’ll end up spending more money because you have to use them more, compared to properly insulated houses.
Finally, you can increase your risk for mold if your outdoor air is humid. Wet air mixed with cold or lukewarm temperatures is a breeding ground for mold.
While it’s always smart to get your HVAC checked on a yearly basis, you can learn how to spot air leaks in your home and fix them with simple DIY solutions.
WHERE ARE THE MOST COMMON AIR LEAK LOCATIONS?
While air leaks can happen anywhere in the home, some spots are more prone to drafts than others. As you learn how to detect air leaks, start with these common spots:
Doors
Windows
Weatherstripping
Floorboards
Attic hatches
Plumbing or electrical penetrations
Vents
Outlets and switches
Depending on your home’s layout and style, you may also need to check:
Fireplaces
Crawlspaces and basements
Ductwork
6 DIY Methods for Spotting Air Leaks
You can usually detect air leaks in the house with one of these methods. If none of them work and you still suspect a leak, reach out to one of our home services experts.
1. Dirt Test
Check for dirt spots on your ceilings and rugs (plus any areas near air vents and registers). Any place air can enter your home provides an open invitation to dust, dirt, and grime.
2. Hand Test
The simplest way to look for an air leak is to feel around for spots that are unusually cold, drafty, or dry. If the suspected air leak is in a dirty or splintered spot, though, skip this method and try one of the others on the list.
3. Candle Test
A lit wick on a candle or incense stick can point the way to even the best-hidden air leaks. Start by holding the lit candle near and around your doors and windows.
If there’s no leak, the flame will remain vertical. If it suddenly flutters or turns right or left, you’ve spotted a leak in need of sealing.
4. Nighttime Flashlight Method
You’ll need a second pair of eyes to help you with this DIY method. The nighttime flashlight method involves going to suspected air leaks and shining a flashlight over them so rays of light show through on the outside.
5. Thermal Camera
If you feel like getting some home equipment, a thermal camera can detect different heat signatures in your home. Some smartphones even have infrared camera settings that can give you a clue about where your air leaks are!
6. IR Thermometer
An infrared thermometer can help you “diagnose” the temperature of your indoor air to look for inconsistencies. With thermal imaging for air leaks, you don’t need to come into contact with any objects or even prep your space.
These thermometers use a camera lens to detect subtle changes in light and radiation, letting you know where a draft might be.
4 FAST WAYS TO STOP AIR LEAKS
Once you learn how to detect air leaks, your next order of business is to patch them up (or at least temporarily fix them until you can get professional help). Try these tips when you want to heat your home for less or stay cool in the summer.
1. Caulk and Foam
If you’re dealing with a crack or gap that’s half an inch or smaller, we recommend using caulk. This material is usually made out of latex or silicone and is popular for home construction projects that require a long-lasting, waterproof seal.
Cracks larger than half an inch are better suited to foam. Spray foam is a common solution for attics, basements, or crawlspaces.
2. Door Sweeps
Got leaky doors? A door sweep is a great way to trap air within a specific room and is one of our favorite inexpensive ways to prevent heat loss. This is a simple device that fastens to the bottom of a door to seal gaps between the door and the threshold. Many homeowners will buy multiple door sweeps to help them get through extreme seasons like winter or summer.
3. Outlet Gaskets
You can place foam gaskets behind your outlet cover to reduce drafts. You can even overlap several of these if you have a particularly bad air leak.
4. Insulation Pairing and Air Sealing
Two solutions are better than one. Insulation pairing is the practice of selecting two or more methods to trap warm or cool air in your home. For example, a homeowner may use insulation pairing for their basement by combining floor rugs (for warmth) with a vapor barrier (to control humidity).
Air sealing is the process of patching up leaks. One of our biggest air sealing tips is to use multiple methods. If one fails, you can still have another two or three working hard to insulate your home.
For example, you can use caulk for your roof, gaskets for your outlets, and door sweeps for each room.
WHEN SHOULD YOU HIRE A PROFESSIONAL?
Let’s say you learn how to detect air leaks and create some insulation and air sealing throughout your home. If you still don’t notice any changes in your comfort levels or energy bills, you might need a professional on the case.
An experienced technician can perform more subtle tests and thus help you eliminate possible sources of the problem. For example, you can hire a heating company to conduct a professional blower door test. This test consists of depressurizing your house to find any existing air leaks.
Another advanced process involves using an infrared camera to locate air leaks, including any inside electrical sockets and switches. While you can use an infrared camera yourself, professional equipment can still provide a finer level of detail that over-the-counter solutions won’t.
Even better, a professional can offer personalized solutions proven to work. Here at Conway, our indoor air quality specialists are well-versed in insulation, sealing, air cleaning, and more.
CONWAY CAN HELP YOU FIX AIR LEAKS
Tired of dealing with drafty rooms and high energy bills? So are we. We established Conway in 1990 to take some of the work out of maintaining your home. If you’ve tried our DIY fixes but still aren’t getting solutions, we can take it from here.
We offer general heating services, heating repair, and cooling repair. We also provide thorough indoor air quality solutions to help you manage your home’s insulation, humidity, and air purity.
When you reach out to us, you benefit from:
25 years of experience delivering dependable home services in the Mid-South
Transparent pricing and free estimates
Emergency services and general seven-day availability
Do you have a stubborn draft in your home? Give us a call, and we’ll fix it for you.