If you live in a newer home, you may think that because it was built with energy efficiency in mind, you’ve no need to be concerned with air leaks. However, even newer homes can have problems with air leakage, and it’s a pretty good bet that if you have an older home, you will need to air seal your house. Doing so will save you money by making your HVAC system work more efficiently and by sealing any leaks both in your system and in your home itself.
What are air leaks, and where can they occur?
Air leaks happen when outside air enters your home through cracks and openings in the home. These can happen just about anywhere, but here are some of the more common places they can occur:
- Phone and cable lines’ entry points into the home
- Window and door frames
- Switch plates
- Electrical outlets
- Air-conditioners that have either been window- or wall-mounted
- Dryer vents
- Attics
- Baseboards
Doing an air seal inspection
Although you can try to conduct your own air seal inspection, it’s wise to get a professional to do both the inspection and repair work for you, especially if you don’t have experience with it. If you choose to do your own inspection, one of the easiest ways to do this is to go through your home on a windy day with a lit candle and hold it next to windows and other places leaks occur. If the flame flickers or moves excessively, you likely have a leak and will need to fix it.
Fixing air seal leaks
Air sealing can be done for doors and windows relatively easily with weatherstripping and caulk, properly applied. Again, if you’re not experienced with this, hire a professional to do it. In addition, it’s wise to have your HVAC system inspected to make sure it’s in top-notch condition and doesn’t need repairs, and to clean and seal the ductwork.
Contact Around the Clock Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. for more information or to request assistance. We’ve been serving the Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley area since 1967.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air sealing and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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