Air Leakage Control as a strategy is the single most beneficial retrofit activity for your home!
The first step is identifying where leaks occur. Air leaks occur anywhere there’s an unwanted opening in the building envelope and a pressure difference. In a heated home, or during the winter months, the house tends to operate like a chimney. This means that air typically enters the house at lower levels, and exits at the upper levels and ceiling.
Identifying specific areas where leakage takes place can require some detective work. You can hire a contractor with the right equipment to perform a test for you, or you can carry out your own investigation by making a “leak detector” to locate those areas in your home where air is leaking. All you need are some incense sticks; holding two or three together creates more smoke for easier detection. Powerful leaks will cause the smoke to dissipate and the tips of the sticks to glow. Slower leaks will cause the smoke to trail away or move towards the leak.
On a cold day, check for drafts in all suspected areas, remembering it’s easier to locate air leaks on windy days. You’ll be surprised to discover just how many areas throughout your home need to be sealed with weather-stripping or even caulking. Don’t forget to check for possible leaks on interior walls and features of your home. There could be direct route exposure through partition walls or along floor joists to the outside that need sealing.
DIY Quotes…
We don’t retrofit spaces, we transform them.
