Air leaks throughout your home can be a major drain on your energy dollars. They pull air out of your home as well as letting it enter. You have probably experienced air leaks as cold drafts during winter or overly hot rooms during the summer.
How Pros Find The Air Leaks
The easiest way to identify where the leaks are is to ask a licensed energy auditor from Smith & Willis Heating & Air Conditioning in the greater Denver area to find them. Professionals use specialized equipment to find the exact locations of the leaks and the degree of infiltration. At the end of the audit, they’ll give you a complete list of problem areas and recommendations about sealing them.
Doing It Yourself
While you’ll get the most precise results from a professional, you can do it yourself by closing all the exterior doors and windows, while leaving the interior doors open. Gather a candle or incense stick and paper and pencil. To start the energy audit, turn on all the vent fans in the kitchen and bathrooms. Slowly walk around the exterior walls of your rooms with the lighted candle or incense stick and watch for places where the smoke wavers.
Moving smoke indicates that there’s an air leak. You’re more likely to find them around window frames, baseboards, electrical outlets, and fireplaces. They could also be present around recessed lights that protrude into the attic and the exhaust fans themselves. The basement may have air leaks around the top plate.
Include The Ductwork
Professional auditors have the equipment to test the amount of air leakage in the ductwork, which might be a significant amount. Although it’s not as accurate, you can identify areas with ductwork leaks where there’s more unsettled dust or spaces than the rest of your home.
Sealing The Leaks
Home improvement centers stock many types of caulk, foam sealant, and weather stripping that will effectively seal the air leaks.
Bottom Line
The experts at Smith & Willis Heating & Air Conditioning in Commerce City can conduct an energy audit for you as well as test your ducts for leakage. Not only will your energy bills fall, but you’ll also have a more comfortable home with lower energy bills. Contact us today if you need Smith & Willis Heating & Air Conditioning to take care of your air leaks.
