Air escaping your home can be both frustrating and expensive. It can also drive up your energy costs.
In order to detect these leaks, there are several steps you can take.
- Visual Inspection
Some air leaks can be detected with the naked eye. You should carefully observe several key areas of your home. The important places to check are where two different surfaces come together. For example, the border where the foundation and the bottom bricks meet can have an air leak. So can the area where the chimney meets the siding. Thoroughly check the inside of your home too for any place that might have a crack or gap. - Building Pressurization Test
To conduct this test, turn off all of your combustion appliances, shut your windows and turn on all of your exhaust fans. Next, light an incense stick and move it around any area that might be suspect. Window and door frames, places where external cables enter the home, and electrical sockets are all common leak sites. Check to see where the smoke wavers or is sucked out of the room. You can also dampen your hand to see if you can feel a draft with all the appliances turned off and the windows shut. - Conduct an Energy Audit
You can hire professional technicians to conduct an energy check. One method they might use is the blower door test. This involves a fan that mounts directly into the frame of an outside door. When the fan pulls air out of the house, the higher outside air pressure will come in through the cracks and gaps, allowing the technician to spot the leaks.
The trained professionals from Summit Heating & A/C can help you run tests to locate any air leaks in your home. We’ve been providing heating and cooling system installation, maintenance, and repair services to the Denver area for over 20 years. We also deal with air purification and water heaters. Call us today to discuss your needs.
