Don’t take air leaks in your home for granted. Even a tiny wall or window crack can lead to higher energy bills, increased indoor air pollutants, and decreased indoor air quality. The good news is that identifying these leaks with indoor air quality sensors and other traditional methods is easy. And once you’ve identified where outside air is coming from, you can plug these leaks and meet IAQ standards.
Indoor air quality guidelines strongly recommend patching air leaks to prevent outdoor pollutants and pests from infiltrating your home. Fortunately, repairs are easy, even if you’re not a handyman. DIY with caulk, weather strips, or spray foam insulation from the hardware store.
Sealing leaks is crucial to indoor air cleaning. And fixing them is a cost-effective way to save energy and improve your home’s comfort. Now, let’s get sleuthing and find sneaky air leaks in your home. Here are detective-style tests to help you crack the case:
Keep an IAQ Monitor
Ideally, all homes should have an indoor air quality monitor because it safeguards your health. Most respiratory problems like asthma, allergies, and infections stem from breathing dirty indoor air. One of the best indoor air quality strategies to check for alarming air flow fluctuations is with a portable IAQ sensor.
Conduct a Visual Inspection
If you don’t have a sensor, check for air leaks through traditional visual inspection. Assess your home’s exterior and interior for problems such as:
- Crevices around windows and doors
- Basement and foundation cracks
- Gaps around electrical outlets and switches
- Holes in exterior walls
- Baseboards and floor gaps
Manual Palpation
Get your hands “dirty” by checking manually for issues. Inspect all seams inside and outside your home with damp hands to detect sudden temperature changes. If you feel a temperature drop or rise near a seam, you’ve found an air leak and can give yourself a pat on the back for cracking the case!
Classic Fire Tests
They say you shouldn’t play with fire. However, a smoke or candle test is a traditional but effective way to bust an air leak. It may not be as high-tech as today’s IAQ products, but it works. Start by lighting an incense or cigarette stick and holding it near potential leaks. Watch the smoke; if it drifts away from a suspected site, you’ve found the culprit.
Alternatively, use a candle, but instead of following the smoke, watch how the flame flickers. If it moves in a specific direction, you’ve got a leak. These definitive tests are especially useful for minor issues you can’t detect with a visual inspection. Use caution to avoid a fire!
Flashlight Test
When the sun goes down, turn off all the lights. Send a family member outside to stand before the suspected air leak. Shine your flashlight from inside the house. If the person outside can see the light coming through, it’s time to plug that leak!
Simple Paper Test
This paper test is a breeze, unlike difficult school exams that make you nervous. Stick a piece of paper into your window or door frame, then close it. If you can pull the paper out easily, this means the gap is too big, and adjustments ought to be made.
Get ready to make your home air-tight and energy-efficient with these easy tests. You can take the guesswork out of identifying indoor air pollution and potential air leaks with IAQ solutions like uHoo. This indoor air quality monitor provides precise figures from every room in your house. Happy air leak hunting!
