Air leaks around windows and doors can cost you money. If air is escaping, then your air conditioner/heater has to work much harder to keep your home at your desired temperature.
Find Air Leaks
The problem is that these air leaks aren’t always readily apparent. The best way to check for air leaks is to light a candle or an incense stick and walk around the house placing it around the frames of doors and windows. It helps if it is windy outside rather than a calm day.
If the candle flame starts to flicker or smoke from the incense gets sucked out, you know that you have an air leak. It’s easier to determine exactly where it is. If you don’t have a candle or incense handy at the moment, you can use a piece of tissue. You want to separate it so that it is as thin and light as possible. This technique, however, may not detect small air leaks.
Take your stroll around the house with your candle/tissue in hand. It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. When you come to a window or door, slowly move it around the edges watching to see if the candle flickers.
Once you have determined where the air leaks are, you should caulk them. You can purchase the caulk at any hardware or home improvement store. Ask an assistant there for help if you are not sure. Bigger discount home improvement stores should have “how-to” brochures that will show you exactly how to make the repair.
Once you have the caulk, spread it over the cracks so that they seal up. It will be well worth the investment. If you have leaks under doors, you can purchase a door sweep that will attach to the bottom and help block the airflow. Repairing air leaks can save up to $100 in energy costs depending on the severity of the leaks.
Jeffrey strain is a freelance author, his work has appeared at The Street.com and seekingalpha.com. In addition to having authored thousands of articles, Jeffrey is a former resident of Japan, former owner of Savingadvice.com and a professional digital nomad.
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