Find the Leaks

Sealing Air Holes in Your Home Can Save Money

Stopping air leaks is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce your home heating and cooling costs.

Air escaping your home is a problem, but so is outdoor air finding its way indoors, forcing your air conditioning system and heating unit to work even harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. While some leaks may seem small, consider that more than half of a household’s energy consumption is heating and cooling the home, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In other words, small leaks add up.

Caulk and weatherstripping can go a long way toward saving you money, making your home more comfortable, and creating a healthier indoor environment. Caulk is designed for cracks and openings around things that don’t move, such as the frames of doors and windows. Weatherstripping can seal gaps in movable items, like the doors and windows themselves.

You can hire a weatherization expert to assess the air tightness of your home, or you can take a few steps on your own.

There are some obvious red flags, for example, seeing daylight around doors and windows or a drafty corner in a room. Get someone to help you and have them go outside and shine a flashlight into areas you suspect are problems while you keep an eye on the inside. If you see light, you have a gap you need to fill.

You could also make use of a windy day and walk around your home with a lit incense stick or smoke pen, a pen with a wick used to check for air leaks. If the smoke stream moves horizontally as you stand in front of windows, doors, and other areas of your home, then you’ve found an air leak.

A visual inspection could reveal problem areas in the exterior corners of your home, around outdoor water faucets, and places where different building materials meet — such as where the foundation meets brick or siding.

Other trouble spots that can allow air to leak in and out of your home include electrical outlets and light switches, which you can address with foam gaskets placed behind the wall plates. Places where plumbing, ducts, or electrical wiring come into walls, floors, and ceilings can all be sources of air leaks. Also, if you have a fireplace, have the flue damper checked to make sure it’s closing and sealing properly when the fireplace is not in use.

Learn more energy-saving tips from Wiregrass Electric Cooperative’s website on the Energy Savers page.