Spring arrives this month, bringing longer and warmer days. Air conditioners will be running full blast before you know it. Now — before hot weather arrives — is the time to take action to avoid letting your home leak money.

Air leakage is responsible for up to 40% of the energy loss in American homes, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That adds up to unnecessarily higher energy bills in the summer and winter.

Eliminate unwanted air leakage by finding and closing gaps,
cracks and holes in your home’s envelope.

If you didn’t get around to sealing up air leaks last fall and suffered higher heating bills as a result, prioritize closing those gaps now. Eliminate unwanted air leakage by finding and closing gaps, cracks and holes in your home’s envelope — the physical barrier between the air-conditioned interior and the unconditioned outside.

Mind the gap

In addition to the usual suspects like a drafty window, there are many less obvious places where air can leak. You’ll need to do a little detective work to identify them. The U. S. Department of Energy suggests first taking a walk around the outside of the house. Look for gaps or cracks any place where two different building materials meet, including:
  • Exterior corners
  • Outdoor water faucets
  • Where siding and chimneys meet
  • Areas where the foundation and the bottom of exterior brick or siding meet
Inside your home, inspect these areas:
  • Electrical outlets
  • Switch plates
  • Door and window frames
  • Electrical and gas service entrances
  • Baseboards
  • Weather stripping around doors
  • Fireplace dampers
  • Attic hatches
  • Wall- or window-mounted air conditioners
  • Cable TV and phone lines
  • Where dryer vents pass through walls
  • Vents and fans
  • Where pipes and wires enter the home from outside
Even if you’ve been diligent in applying caulking and weather stripping in the past, it’s a good idea to recheck potential trouble spots while performing spring maintenance. Age or improperly applied sealants can create energy-robbing gaps.

Testing, testing

Once you know where to look, use one of these simple do-it-yourself methods to find air leaks inside your home:
  1. Visual inspection: If you can see any daylight around exterior door frames or windows rattle easily, you likely have air leaks.
  2. Dollar bill test: Test each window and door by closing it on a dollar bill, then try to pull the money out. If the bill easily slips out, it’s a sign that there’s a significant gap and air leakage is likely.
  3. Feel for drafts: If it’s still cold outside, close and turn off sources of moving air. Gently hold a dampened hand around the edges of potential leak sites. Any drafts will feel cool to your hand.
  4. Smoke test: On a windy day, turn off appliances that cause wind disturbances and shut windows and doors. Carefully pass a lit incense stick around the edges of common leak sites. Wherever the smoke wavers or is sucked out of or blown into the room, there’s a draft.

Draft dodges

If your detective work uncovers some leaky spots, don’t sleep on getting them sealed up this spring. Sealing air leaks is a relatively easy and inexpensive home improvement project. Caulk is commonly used for cracks and openings between stationary house components such as door and window frames. If you’re new to caulking, check out this short tutorial from our parent company, Walton EMC. With the right materials and a little know-how, you can seal like a pro. In addition to caulk, local home improvement stores stock a variety of sealants and options for closing gaps. Consider:
  • Applying weatherstripping to seal home components that move, such as doors and operable windows.
  • Using a foam sealant to close larger gaps around windows and baseboards.
  • Installing foam gaskets behind outlets and switch plates.
  • Replacing exterior door bottoms and thresholds with ones that have pliable sealing gaskets.
Though it’s initially more expensive, replacing old windows and doors with newer, high-performance ones can be a cost-efficient fix. Replacing broken or cracked storm windows should be a priority purchase. Sealing air leaks can save as much as 10% on air conditioning costs, estimate Walton EMC residential energy professionals. But keep in mind that it doesn’t eliminate the need for proper insulation. Consult your electric utility for information to determine whether your home has adequate insulation.