How to Check your Windows for Air Leaks

Heating and cooling systems help make your home in Austin comfortable in any season, but if your windows have air leaks, you’re paying more than you need to on your energy bills. Drafts caused by leaky windows not only let the air you’ve paid to condition escape outside but provide an entry point for damaging moisture and sneeze-inducing allergens as well. Fortunately, there are a number of easy ways to check your windows for air leaks. These tips from Handyman Connection of Austin cover the most popular methods.

Check the Signs

A careful visual inspection is sometimes all it takes to spot energy-wasting leaks. In addition to obvious cracks and gaps, look for signs of pest, dust or water intrusion. Outdoor odors intruding into your home can also indicate drafty windows. Be sure to inspect each window from both the inside and the outside, paying particular attention to the places where the window frame meets the surrounding casing. Cracked or dried caulk in this area can cause leaks and drafts.

Under Pressure

Chances are good that a window that rattles noisily when you touch it is leaking air. Other leaks aren’t as obvious. The optimal way to detect leaks is to conduct a DIY building pressurization test. Start by closing all the doors and windows in your home, and then turn on any appliances that expel air outside, such as a clothes dryer, stove vent or bathroom fan. This depressurizes your home, which makes it easier to identify leaks. You’ll find that this test works best on a windy day when drafts are more apparent.

Next, light a stick of incense or smoke pen and pass it slowly around the frame of each window. Any wavering smoke is a clear indication that the window is leaking air. If you’re concerned about using smoke, dusting talcum powder into the air works too. If the weather is hot outside, you may be able to locate leaks by simple passing a damp hand around the perimeter of the window.

Light It Up

With help from a friend or family member, you can also test your windows for air leaks in the dark of night. First, turn out all the lights in your home. One person then steps outside and shines a flashlight at the windows while the other stays indoors to see if any light flashes through gaps, leaks or loose edges.

The Paper Trail

Simply closing a window on a standard piece of paper can help identify air leakage too. If you can withdraw the paper without tearing it, you’ve got a leak. Even if the window seems otherwise airtight, sealing it with caulk or weatherstripping can provide you with substantial savings on your utility bills. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, energy loss through leaky windows can account for 10 to 25 percent of your heating and cooling expenses.

Window Sealing from Handyman Connection of Austin

From adhesive-backed weatherstripping to aerosol spray foam, there are a variety of products available for sealing drafty windows. The secret to an airtight window lies in selecting the material that meets your unique needs. At Handyman Connection of Austin, our window specialists can seal your windows for you using the product best suited for your application. Eliminating drafts caused by leaky windows will save you money and enhance the comfort of your home-sweet-home.