Inspecting the windows and doors regularly for air and water leak help you save money on energy and repair bills.

Now that cool winter nights are giving way to hot summers, it is important to take a closer look at your windows and doors to stop air leaks and water drips while detecting gaps that let the outside in.

Sealing the air leaks around your home will help you prevent hot spots in your home, in turn, saving you money on your monthly utility bills. While you may already know of some air leaks in your home, there are some less obvious gaps that need to be sealed properly.

While an expert HVAC technician can help you with a thorough and accurate measurement of air leakage in your home, you can do a few tests on your own to get an idea of air and water leaks.

Here are a few ways to find air and water leaks in your home yourself.

Visual inspection

The first and the most important steps are to perform a visual inspection of the house. Inspect all the areas on the outside of your home including:

  • Outdoor water faucets
  • Exterior corners
  • The area where the foundation and the bottom of the exterior brick meet
  • The area where siding and chimneys meet

Inside the home, inspect the area where cracks or gaps can cause air leaks. These include:

  • Door and window frame
  • Electrical outlets
  • Baseboards
  • Electrical and gas service entrances
  • Switch plates
  • Fireplace dampers
  • Weather-stripping around the door
  • Vents and fans
  • Cable TV and phone lines
  • Wall-mounted air conditioner
  • Attic hatches
  • The area where dryer vents pass through the walls

Also make sure to look for clues around the pipes and wires, mail slots and foundation seals to see if the caulking is applied properly.

It is also important to inspect the windows and doors for air leaks. If you see daylight around a door frame, then the door leaks air. If the door or window rattles, it can mean possible air leaks. Also, make sure the weather stripping around the window is in good condition. Take note of any weather stripping that needs to be replaced.

Smoke Test

While some problem areas may be obvious, others may not easily be seen. One of the effective ways to detect air leaks is to conduct a smoke test.

  • Start by closing all the doors and windows and turn off any combustion appliances such as a water heater or furnace.
  • Next turn on all the exhaust fans that blow the air outside.
  • Light an incense stick close to the edges of common leak sites.
  • Wherever the smoke is sucked out of the room, there’s a draft. Further, you can use your hands to locate a leak as the draft will feel cool to your hand.

Another great method to check air leak is to shine a flashlight over all potential gaps at night. Large cracks will show up rays of light. However, this is not an effective method to detect small cracks.

Test the Windows

Air and water can easily seep into your home through closed windows. Therefore make sure to give your windows a thorough inspection.

Shake a little – Shake the window a little and if it rattles, the frame is not secure. Use some caulk and a few nails to fix the frame.

The light test – If you can see light from around and not just through the window, you have got gaps. Seal the leaks by caulking around the frame.

Check the locks – Do you have double-hung windows? If so, make sure they slide smoothly up and down. You can run a knife around the frame to loosen any dried paint.

You can repair some older windows to save money on new windows. However, remember that there are cheaper ways to cut utility bills, such as sealing the air leaks or using bubble wrap to line your windows.

Call in the professionals

If it is difficult to discover the home leaks on your own, you can always get in touch with experienced HVAC technicians.

Lee’s Heating and Air Conditioning provides expert services for residential and commercial heating, air conditioning, duct cleaning, and water treatment. We are proud to be Utah’s only American Standard Customer Care Dealer.

As a multi-year recipient of the “American Standard Dealer of the Year Award” Lee’s has served Utah communities for over 90-years with reliable, affordable, and EXPERT service.

Schedule your expert service today. Call (801) 467-1561!