Preventing Drafts & Air Leaks In Your Home
Everyone wants a comfortable and cozy home, especially in the winter months. However, many homes lose their warmth when maintaining warm indoor temperatures becomes difficult. Cranking up the temperature only reduces the energy efficiency in your home and causes your energy bills to skyrocket. An inefficient home is much more costly to maintain in the long run.
By preventing and detecting drafts and air leaks…
you can increase the level of energy efficiency in your home and improve its comfort level all year round. Air sealing is an important part of this process. If you are unfamiliar with air sealing, this article will discuss the best ways to prevent common air leaks in Lehighton PA homes.
Air Leak Prevention Tips And Tricks
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To prevent a drafty home, the first step is knowing where the most common air leaks can occur. These are some of the biggest energy drains in your own home. Begin by looking in the areas that are normally the biggest culprits of energy loss, such as the attic. Make sure that the attic has proper insulation and that there no noticeable cracks or gaps. If you find any cracks, fill them with a squirt foam.
The next place to check is the basement. Locate and seal any cracks to prevent cold air from leaking into the upper rooms and levels of your home. Remember that in larger homes, it is not uncommon to find several small leaks. These small leaks are costly to the homeowner over time.
Running Air Leak Tests In Each Room
Hiring a contractor with specialized air leak detection tools…
to find air leaks is always a good idea. They can easily locate any problem areas in your home and offer helpful suggestions on improving your home’s energy use. However, there are also some simple air sealing techniques that you can try yourself. After ensuring that the attic and basement are free of any air leaks, go from room to room. Inspect any areas where leaks are most likely to occur, such as the cracks along the doorways and around the window frames.
Know The Common Culprits
Recessed lights are one of the leading causes of air leaks in the home. However, the following steps can easily prevent this. Firstly, purchase lights that are labeled as insulation contact and air tight (ICAT). Then, seal any existing lights by using airtight baffle.
Another option, which is quick and less expensive, is to plug open-stud cavities into the walls using insulation-filled garbage bags. This is a great way to stop air flow. Also, remember to close any gaps inside the chimney and flues. Caulk the edges around the windows and door frames. Doing so prevents small air leaks from impacting your heat levels over time.
Homeowners often don’t realize how much harder the furnace has to work.
Your heater works harder to compensate for air leaks that drain heat from the home. By sealing up any drafts and air leaks in your home, you will certainly reduce home heating costs. In addition, your heater will not have to work as hard which reduces the amount of stress that is placed on it. Minimizing the stress on your heater is a great way to extend its lifespan and minimize repair costs.
Common Air Leaks In Homes Lehighton PA
Home maintenance tasks may feel like a drain on your time and finances. However, staying on top of these issues is a great way to minimize any larger issues that crop up in the future. By using the appropriate knowledge, such as where air leaks commonly occur, homeowners can protect their homes and their wallets to prevent air leaks that drain energy efficiency in the home.
Air leak prevention enhances your home’s energy efficiency, but giving your heating system a tune-up is important as well. Your heating system needs annual maintenance by an HVAC professional. This will keep it working properly so that your home will remain nice and warm throughout the winter months. Regular tune-ups also help to reduce your energy costs because the heating unit does not have to work as hard to keep your home warm.
For the best HVAC service, contact R.F. Ohl today to schedule an appointment. Our HVAC contractors are NATE certified and very experienced. They can help to enhance your system’s performance. Additionally, they will make useful suggestions to improve the energy use in your home.
Some of the areas we service include: Ashfield, Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Parryville, and these zip codes: 18212, 18229, 18235, 18244 as well as all surrounding areas in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.
Contact us today or give us a call at (610) 377-1098 if you have any questions.