Are Air Leaks Undermining Your Heating or Cooling Efforts? Find Them

Energy efficiency is important to every household, and no one wants to waste money. Unfortunately, air leaks, which can waste a great deal of energy, are often invisible, and take quite a bit of work to locate. Many homeowners here in South Texas might assume that air leaks don’t matter, since we never have the severe winter weather that our Northern neighbors often suffer from. However, these leaks can undermine both heating and cooling efforts, and can overwork your HVAC system, wasting a lot of energy and increasing your bills. Sealing any cracks or gaps in your home will save energy and money, extend the life of your HVAC system, and make the house more comfortable in every season.

The first step to sealing your home is locating the leaks. Air leaks often occur near windows, doors, electrical outlets and baseboards. You may be able to find many of them yourself, but it can also be useful to hire an expert. Schedule a professional home energy evaluation for assistance, and let an experienced auditor tour your house and search for leaks and other issues. After the inspection, the auditor can present you with a thorough analysis of all the leaks and problem areas he may have found in your home, and give you some advice on how to fix them.

Once you know where the leaks are, you should get to work and seal them immediately. For gaps near windows, caulk is ideal, while weatherstripping may be more appropriate for doors. For outlets and other areas, you may find that spray foam insulation is the best option.

Insulation is also important, especially in the attic and exterior walls, so add more to any areas that might be lacking. Some types of insulation can be installed easily by a homeowner, but some types and locations require professional assistance to avoid any damage or mistakes.

For more expert advice on locating and sealing leaks in your Coastal Bend area home, contact Mathews CCAC Air Conditioning. today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air leaks and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Credit/Copyright Attribution: “3Dmask/Shutterstock”