Stopping air leaks saves energy and money

Warm air leaking into your home during the summer and out of your home during the winter makes your AC and heating system work longer, wasting energy and costing you money. Sealing these leaks can save as much as 10 percent on your heating and cooling bill.

Two ways to find the leaks

1. Shine a flashlight at night from inside the home around doors and areas with a potential for gaps while a helper observes from outside. If they see the light there’s a leak.
2. Hold a lit incense stick next to windows, doors, ceiling fixtures, electrical outlets, attic hatches, along floor boards, exterior walls and any other areas with a potential air path to the outside of your home. The smoke stream will move horizontally when held in front of a leak.

Where leaks occur

The U.S. Department of Energy breaks down where air leaks occur in the home as follows:

Fixing the leaks

• Caulk and weatherstrip leaking doors and windows. One exterior door with a one-eighth inch gap around it is equivalent to having a 6 inch hole in an exterior wall.
• Caulk and seal air leaks around exterior openings, over cabinets and where plumbing, duct work or electrical wiring penetrates through exterior walls, floors or ceiling.
• Install foam gaskets behind outlets and switch plates on exterior walls.
• Look for dirty spots on your insulation, which often indicate holes where air leaks into and out of your house. Seal them by stapling sheets of plastic over the holes and caulking the edges of the plastic. Never cover openings associated with lighting, such as recessed lighting.
• You can lose as much as 60 percent of your heated or cooled air before it reaches the vent if your ducts are in your attic or crawl space and they aren’t insulated.
• Close the flue damper tightly when the fireplace is not in use.