Even the best heating and cooling systems can fail at keeping your home at a steady, comfortable temperature if drafts are present. It can seem like there’s nothing worse than having to bundle up in blankets to avoid the chill when you want to relax in your living room after a long day. If you notice your heat system kicking on more frequently than you’d like, or your energy bills seem unusually high, it may be time to inspect your home for air leaks and drafts.
The Old Fashioned Candle Method
This is a very basic technique anyone can utilize. Simply wait for a cool, windy day. Inspect your doors and windows and any other suspicious areas, and slowly move a lit candle or burning incense stick around the perimeter. When the flame or smoke moves, you’ll know you have a draft problem.
High Tech Solutions
There are some high tech imaging options available that will show you not only the typical, visible draft areas of your home, but can also uncover some frequently overlooked problem areas where insulation is either insufficient or non-existent. Thermal imaging equipment is used to show where heat is being lost in the home. It’s common knowledge that the majority of heat loss occurs through windows and doors, but many homeowners are surprised to find other cold spots in walls, floors, and other structural features that most likely would have not been discovered were it not for thermal imaging.
Fixing Drafts and Air Leaks
A great way to fill in drafty areas and under-insulated sections of walls and floors is to install insulation, and you can also invest in new energy efficient windows and doors. There are many types of insulation on the market, but we recommend spray foam for its versatility and high R value. There simply is no better alternative when it comes to tightly sealing these problem areas with accuracy and quality, and spray foam is budget-friendly.
