Air leakage in your home is common. You may feel it in a draft under the door or near an unsealed window. Fortunately, air leakage is something easy to take care of. You can find out how much air is leaking into your home with the help of a qualified inspector. He or she can conduct an energy audit to reveal the location of any leaks and to come up with solutions, such as window sealing.
Undergo an Inspection
A inspector may look at several areas of your home during an inspection. These areas may include where the siding and chimneys connect, outdoor water faucets, exterior corners and any area where the foundation and the exterior siding or brick meets.
On the inside of the home, he or she will look at your switch plates, door and window frames, electrical outlets and attic hatches. He or she may also check the baseboards, fireplace dampers, cable lines, vents and fans and much more. Any place there could be cracks or gaps, the inspector will examine the area.
Conduct Pressurization Test
After a visual inspection, the professional conducts a test. This test can increase infiltration through the cracks so that the inspector can detect said leaks. He or she can turn off all of your furnaces or water heaters, shut the windows, fireplace flues and any exterior doors. Then, the inspector will turn on exhaust fans from your dryer, stove vent or bathroom fans to pull the air from the room. Then, with incense, he or she can walk through the home and see where the smoke wavers or flutters. In addition, running a damp hand over leaks will result in your hand feeling cold air.
If you have any worries about air leakage in your home, keep in mind that these problems can be easily solved with professional help. Through an inspection and a building pressurization test, you could be on your way to window sealing and less leakage.
