How to Determine If Your Home is Leaking Air and Causing You Additional Costs for Energy Expenses?

How to determine if your home is Leaking Air and causing you additional costs for energy expenses?

Every home, whether it was built back in the 1950's or today have sources of air leaks which can cause you to spend additional dollars as your heat or air conditioned air flows out of these cracks into the atmosphere. Do some self service checks around your home before you turn on your air conditioner this summer, it may save you a few dollars. Here are some areas in your home that are notorious for air leaks; Dropped ceiling; Water and furnace flues; Window frames; Recessed light; All ducts; Electrical outlets and switches; Attic entrance; Door frames; Plumbing and utility access; Sill plates; and Chimney. Sealing Air Leaks Warm air leaking into your home during the summer and out of your home during the winter can waste a lot of your energy dollars. One of the quickest dollar-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal, and weather strip all seams, cracks, and openings to the outside. You can save as much as 10% on your heating and cooling bill by reducing the air leaks in your home.

First, test your home for air tightness. An easy way to check your home, on a windy day, hold a lit incense stick next to your windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches, and other locations where there is a possible air path to the outside. If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you have located an air leak that may need caulking, sealing, or weather stripping. Take the time to have someone caulk and weather strip doors and windows that leak air. This will save you money and we are all for saving money

Look around your plumbing fixtures, caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ducting, or electrical wiring penetrates through exterior walls, floors, ceilings, and over cabinets. Go to your local Home Depot or Lowes and buy some rubber gaskets to install behind outlet and switch plates on exterior walls, the extra installation will help to seal the air leak.

Now look around your insulation that is already installed in your attic, if there are dirty spots in your insulation, this means that there are air leaks, you can seal the holes and leaks by simply stapling sheets of plastic over the holes and caulking the edges of the plastic.

You may need to spend some money, however in the long run you will be saving money on energy costs throughout the year, if you look at your windows and they are not double pane, think about replacing them or install storm windows over your single pane windows to retain your energy.

Now that it is getting warmer, you won't have to use that cozy fireplace, keep the flue damper tightly closed. A chimney is designed specifically for smoke to escape, so until you close it you are losing you cool air, take the time to look at this and assure that all items that need to be closed are.

These few tips could actually save you hundreds of dollars each year instead of wasting your energy.