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Here’s How to Inspect Your Home for Air Leaks Before It Gets Blazing Hot Outside

Heres How to Inspect Your Home for Air Leaks Before It Gets Blazing Hot Outside by Day & Night Plumbing, Heating, Cooling LLC 505-974-5797

Did you know that one of the largest expenses for US homes is heating and cooling? According to the Department of Energy, it accounts for over half of a typical home’s energy costs.

Warm air leaking into your home during summer and out of your home during winter can waste a lot of your hard-earned money!

Why take the risk and lose your hard-earned money spent on A/C to air leaks?

Making sure your home is properly sealed and insulated can help you save on energy costs this summer. By taking the time to check for any air leaks, you can prevent warm air from coming into your home and keep your home cooler.

Small cracks and holes in your home can cause up to 25% of the heat inside it to escape. Sealing and insulating your home properly will help keep the heat in, saving you energy and money on your heating bill.

You can also insulate your attic and walls, and seal cracks and openings with caulking or weather-stripping to help keep the heat from leaking out of your home. Taking these simple steps will make your home more comfortable and energy efficient.

Benefits of Proper Sealing and Insulation for Your Comfort

Making sure your home is adequately sealed and insulated can save you energy and money. When your home can hold on to the cool air provided by your central air conditioning system, you’ll be more comfortable when it’s hot outside.

When your home is sealed tightly, there is less chance of your cool air escaping. Your system will run less often, while keeping you just as cool and comfortable.

Sealing your home and properly insulating it can help keep the cool air in, which will make your HVAC unit run less often.

Air Leaks Let Cool Air Escape

When air leakage is present throughout your home, you’ll likely experience higher cooling costs and energy usage.

Air leaks allow your home to lose its cool air and let the hot air in. As the warm and cool air mix together, the temperature in your home becomes uncomfortable and can be inconsistent from room to room.

How to Detect Air Infiltration

A professional HVAC technician can come to your home and do an evaluation to see if there are any leaks and give you recommendations on how to fix them. If you’re interested in DIY solutions, you can use an incense stick to find the leaks yourself.

Air enters and exits your home through every hole and crack. Walk around your house with an incense stick, looking for windows, doors, and outlets where the smoke is blowing sideways. If you find a leak, you can seal it using weather stripping, caulking or spray foam to keep your house comfortable all summer long.

E-Conservation Home Energy Management Series can give you a detailed list to help you find air leaks. One way to do this is by looking for cobwebs because spiders put their webs where there is airflow.

How Does the Air Escape?

Inadequate Insulation Lets the Heat in During Summer

If you don’t have enough insulation, your HVAC system will need to run for longer periods of time to keep your house cool, resulting in higher energy bills. When you have the proper amount of insulation, your system can run more efficiently and for shorter periods of time. Adequate insulation will save you money on your energy bills and keep your home more comfortable during the hot summer months.

If you’re not sure whether your home is well-insulated, be sure to check the air leaks in your walls, especially around windows and door frames – and especially in your attic.

Hot air can escape through poorly insulated attics very easily, making it difficult for your AC unit to keep up. You could end up spending a lot more each month on your energy bills as a result. To avoid this, make sure your attic is well-insulated and free of any air leaks.

Insulation R-value and its Effectiveness in Your Home

Insulation levels are specified by R-value, which is a measure of insulation’s ability to resist heat traveling through it. The higher the R-Value, the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Insulation with a higher R-value will keep warm air out and cool air in; as a result, your HVAC unit won’t have to run as often, and your energy bills will be reduced.

One of the best ways to improve energy efficiency in your home is to install insulation R-values in walls, attics, basements and anywhere you would normally insulate.

Home Depot provides a presentation on DIY insulation, which can be helpful for large projects but also offers quick tips for smaller jobs.

Conclusion

Staying cool this summer doesn’t have to be difficult. Follow these tips to seal and insulate your home, and you’ll be comfortable all season long!

If you do find any complex issues that need fixing, don’t hesitate to call in a professional.

By taking care of your system now, before problems arise, you can ensure your comfort during the hottest months.

Maintaining and servicing is the key to a smoothly running, effective system.

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