The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that air leaks in your home may raise energy bills by as much as 30 percent. Small cracks, windows and doors that don’t fit properly and holes or gaps around pipes or cables entering your home contribute to air infiltration. Sealing them is inexpensive and for the most part, easy. You’ll start saving money and energy immediately, lowering heating and cooling bills throughout the year.
Energy auditors and HVAC contractors often use blower door tests to find air leaks in a home. These steps show you how to perform a similar (but much less expensive) test yourself:
- Make a simple drawing of your home.
- Close the windows and all the exterior doors.
- Turn on the exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms.
- Light a stick of incense or candle and walk through your home, noting where the smoke wavers more than normal. The drifting indicates a draft.
Likely places are exterior doors and windows, ventilation pipes going through the walls or roof, and electric outlets and switches that sit on exterior walls. Once you’ve completed the test, seal the smaller leaks with exterior caulk and use expanding foam or insulation on the larger holes or crevices.
It’s also a good idea to inspect the attic where the vent pipes or chimney leave your home. If your furnace flue has gaps around it, use fireproof products or metal seals. Local building codes may also have guidelines for sealing problems with chimneys or flues, or you can contact an HVAC professional for help.
Other places in your home where air leaks may be draining your energy include fireplace flues and dryers. Make sure that your dryer has a self-sealing flap that closes when it’s not running, and keep the fireplace flue closed when you’re not using it.
If you’d like more information about air leaks and your HVAC system, contact Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We have provided reliable and quality HVAC services in Northeast Ohio for 35 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air leaks and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Energy 1 Heating services the Lorain, OH area. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area