HOW TO CHECK YOUR HOME FOR AIR LEAKS

We’re well into the fall season, and winter is right around the corner. This is the time of year when it’s imperative to make sure your home is adequately sealed. Air leaks can make it challenging to keep your home adequately heated and lead to high utility bills. Here’s a quick guide to checking your home for air leaks.

Method of checking air leak:

• Do an air pressure test. You can quickly check for air leaks with a simple test using household items. Seal your home by completely closing all doors, windows, and vents and turning off exhaust fans. Then pass a burning incense stick along the edges of all doors, windows, and other openings to the outside. If the smoke is forced into or away from an opening, you’ve found a leak.
• Inspect doors and windows. To check for leaks near your windows, attempt to rattle the frame. This will reveal whether there are gaps along the edges. Also, check for cracks in the frame, loose screws in locks, or gaps anywhere in the window.
• Weather insulation: Door hinges and thresholds are familiar places for air leaks. Deteriorated weather stripping can also lead to leaks, and the door itself can develop cracks that allow air to pass through.
• Skylights: These are a little trickier to test and examine, but you can still do it yourself. Check for water stains near your skylights, which is a dead giveaway of a leak. If you suspect there is one, you’ll have to get on the roof for a closer inspection. Look for loose shingles, cracked roofing cement, and debris.