Air leaks in your home are one of the major causes for ice dams in winter. They reduce your insulation’s performance and drive up your heating costs.
Here are 3 key ways to identify pesky warm air leaks so you can seal them and start saving money.
“Drafts”
Most of us recognize air leaks as “drafts,” where cold air slips into your home through gaps around windows, doors, and even basement rim joists. All this cold air displaces the warm air in rooms you’ve paid to heat.
If you’re feeling that chill stick around despite raising the thermostat, look into adding weather stripping, shrink wrap, or new caulk to these cold air gaps.
Dirty insulation
As warm air moves upward through your home, it carries particles of dust and debris with it. That debris will color insulation black, making it look “dirty” and giving away the location of even invisible air leaks between your upper stories.
You’ll want to check around recessed lights up high on the exterior of your home, as well as plumbing vents, wiring holes, and open soffits in the attic.
(FYI: dirty insulation is still effective, so you don’t need to replace it. Just seal those small gaps with the appropriate caulk or expanding foam. Beware of recessed lights, though, as they can become a fire hazard when insulated improperly.)
Ductwork & Framing
Many homes with heating or cooling ducts sport a hollow box or wall feature instead of visible ducting. This “chaseway” hides the ducts but also creates an open cavity where warm air can move freely and collect under your roof.
Likewise, a finished attic will often have open cavities in the floor framing against the side- or kneewalls. These huge gaps are a major pathway for warm air to reach your attic.
Gaps in kneewalls can be plugged with unfaced fiberglass bats stuffed into plastic bags. And ductwork can be sealed with duct mastic, the correct R-6 duct insulation, and large zip ties.
Ready to dive right in?
Regardless of which signs you find, make sure you’re 100% prepared for the task of sealing air leaks with this in-depth guide from Energy Star.
But if this feels more like a Spring project, consider booking a comprehensive roof analysis while you’re at it. Our expert team can examine every bit of your roofing system and find the obvious (and hidden) damage that Winter has left behind.
Next week we’ll cover how to save money on winter roof repairs. Tune back then!