How to Check Your Windows to Ensure there are No Drafts

Erin Jarboe

Description

Leaky windows and doors could be raising your monthly energy costs by as much as 30%, and if that weren’t enough to raise some red flags, there are other problems, too. Drafty windows can affect your comfort, and they can even make your HVAC system work harder than it should to keep your home at its optimal temperature. Here are some steps for checking your windows for drafts. Visit: http://custominstallations.com/

Informations

• Publié par: custominstallations
• Publié le: 09 août 2017
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• Langue: English

Extrait

How to Check Your Windows to Ensure there are No Drafts

Leaky windowsand doors could be raising your monthly energy costs by as much as 30%, and if that weren’t enough to raise some red flags, there are other problems, too.Drafty windowscan affect your comfort, and they can even make your HVAC system work harder than it should to keep your home at its optimal temperature. Here are some steps for checking your windows for drafts.

A Detailed Visual Inspection

The first step in your search for drafts should be a visual inspection of your home, both inside and out. While inside, check weatherstripping around your windows to make sure it’s in good condition. Often, damaged weatherstripping is one of the leading causes of leaks, and it’s simple enough to repair or replace. Check the weatherstripping on your doors, too, and don’t forget to look at the threshold, which can be a common source of drafts.

On the outside of your home, look for things like cracked caulking, gaps between windows and frames, damaged glazing, and more, all of which can allow the outside air to penetrate your home, which causes cooling or heating loss and raises your utility bills unnecessarily. Sometimes, these faults are easy enough to spot; other times, it may be best to contact a professional for such an inspection.

The Smoke Test

One of the best ways to detect air leaks around windows and doors is with the “smoke test”, and while professionals often use expensive equipment to produce smoke, you can do it at home with a simple incense stick. First, close all the windows and doors in your home, then shut down appliances that rely on combustion, like your water heater, gas stove, or furnace. Turn on any exhaust vents in your home which will create negative pressure, since this will cause any leaky areas to draw in outside air.

Once this is done, light the stick of incense and ensure you have a steady stream of smoke. Then, hold the lit stick close to the windows of your home, watching for the smoke to change noticeably. With the negative

pressure, you should see the smoke blow back toward you if the windows are allowing outside air to come in. Note all the areas where the smoke reacted as this is where you’ll want to focus your attention on repairs and maintenance.

Calling the Professionals

Discovering your home’s air leaks can be tricky and time consuming, and there are some who claim that the smoke test can create false positives for leaks. Professionals will often use a blower door test, which is much like the smoke test, only far more reliable and on a grander scale. Professionals may also use an infrared thermometer to measure ambient air temperatures around your windows and doors, which can provide a good sense of the size and impact of any air leaks in your home.

Leaky windows and doorscan make it more difficult and expensive for you to properly heat or cool your home. You can check for drafts on your own, but it’salways a good idea to contact a professional. Not only can they detect leaks, but they can also recommend the best course of action for resolving them, whether that means repair or replacement.