How to Find and Fix Air Leaks and Drafts in Your House
Posted on Wed, Dec 14, 2011 @ 10:00 AM
Do you heat or cool your house only to find that it doesn't last very long? Does your heating or cooling system cycle off and on too frequently? The most common reason for these problems is that your house is leaking air.
Air leaks and drafts that let heat escape in the winter and trickle in during the summer often aren't easily detected because they are usually the result of problems behind walls or in other hard-to-reach places.
Common Areas of Household Air Leaks
Locating Air Leaks
One way you can check for air leaks on your own is to purchase a thermal detector which is made specifically for finding air leaks in your house. The most effective way to check the tightness of your home is to get a professional home energy evaluation. This should include a blower-door (depressurization) test and also thermal imaging which will reveal hard-to-detect areas of air infiltration and missing insulation. The U.S. Department of Energy also offers helpful advice on detecting air leaks.
Fixing Air Leaks and Drafty Areas
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Basement. Caulk is best for sealing gaps or cracks that are 1/4 inch or less. Use spray foam to fill gaps from 1/4 inch to 3 inches. Also, seal penetrations that go through the basement ceiling to the floor above (usually this will be holes for wires, water supply pipes and venting)
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Attic. No matter what kind of insulation you currently have in your attic, one quick way to determine if you need more is to look across the span of your attic. If your insulation is just level with or below your floor joists, you should add more. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to R-38 or about 10 to 14 inches.
A great resource with additional information on insulating and fixing air leaks is provided in a publication from Energy Star.
