An air leak might not seem like a big problem at first—but if you keep on ignoring it, it will waste energy and increase your heating and cooling bills. Finding and sealing an air leak is an easy way to ensure energy-efficiency, saving money as well as increasing the comfort of everyone in your home. However, sometimes it might be hard to locate an air leak as it can be caused by the smallest of cracks and gaps. Don’t worry though because the pros at Freedom Air and Heat, Inc. are here to tell you a little bit about how you can tell if your home has an air leak!
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Candles for Smaller Leaks
To detect smaller leaks in the corners and crevices of your home, you can use the infamous candle test. Light a candle and without setting anything on fire hold it up to places where you think there might be air leaks, such as outlets, baseboards and moldings. Be sure to turn off your central heating or air conditioning before you conduct this test. If the candle flame moves around a little bit, you might have a small air leak. You can also conduct the incense test on especially cold and windy days. Before you do this, turn off the furnace, shut the doors and windows and turn off any fans. Then, light up an incense stick and hold it to any potential leaks. If the flame is blown out, you might be dealing with an air leak.
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The Paper Test
This test might seem a little unusual but there is no harm in trying it out! This method works best for doors and windows. Get a sheet of paper and open and close a door or window, with the sheet in-between. If you are easily able to slide it out without ripping the paper, you might be dealing with a leak! You can also try another paper test, by holding up a piece of paper to potential leaks around window frames or electrical outlets. If the paper moves around a bit, you have an air leak.
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Use an Air Leak Detector
An air leak detector will be a trustworthy device to use when checking for air leaks around your home. Simply point the detector in the direction of the potential leak—usually, detectors have small lights that will scan the area you are detecting for leaks. It turns blue to indicate cold air escaping from the leak and turns red to indicate warm air.
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Blower Door Test
For a blower door test, you will require the help of a professional energy auditor. Through this test, contractors determine the air tightness of your home. A blower door is essentially a very powerful fan that can be mounted on an exterior door frame. The fan depressurizes your home, leading to outside air which has a higher pressure to flow inside through the smallest air leaks.
Prevent Air Leaks with Freedom Air
Air leaks can put a strain on your wallet and reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system because your unit will have to work harder to provide the heating or cooling you need. To learn more about how you can tell if your home has an air leak and how you can prevent it, get in touch with the pros at Freedom Air and Heat, Inc.! Call us today at 321-631-6886 or fill out a service request form online!
