Common Signs and Symptoms
Some obvious signs and symptoms that your home has air leaks and can benefit from plastic sealing are:
- Rattling windows
- Visible gaps around the window or door trim
- Noticeable pests and dust entering through gaps or holes in or around the window or door
- Odors from the outside entering the home
- Peeling paint around the window or door frame
What to Look For
Locating air leaks can be tricky, as they are often very small and barely noticeable. There are several quick and easy do-it-yourself (DIY) ways to locate leaks.
- Perform a paper test: close the window on a piece of paper. If it easily moves back and forth this means your window could be tighter. This can be accomplished by adding thicker weather stripping.
- Light an incense stick and hold it next to the seams or sash of the window. Watch the smoke to see if the smoke is pushed in a particular direction. If you see the smoke pushed one way or another, you most likely have a leak.
Click the picture on the left for step-by-step instructions on performing any one of these tests.
Alternatively, finding a home energy professional to perform this job may be a better solution as they have the tools to easily pinpoint the problems and complete the project for you.
Did You Know?
Your local utility may offer rebates for a professional home energy assessment and certain air sealing and insulation projects.
Be sure to contact your utility company before beginning a project to see what incentives are available in your area. You can also check for incentives using the DSIRE database for state incentives.
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