Air leaks in your home can have a big impact on your home’s overall energy efficiency.  When conditioned air is able to leak outside and outside air can seep in, your heating and cooling equipment has to compensate by working longer and harder than should be necessary to sustain your ideal temperature.  Fix these problem areas to reduce energy costs and get the most out of your HVAC system. 

A common place to find a wide variety of leaks is the basement.  Rim joists — the parts where the wood frame intersects with the foundation — are common places for leaks to occur.  Caulk around these areas even if you can’t see any holes, as they are often tiny.  There are often many holes that lead from the basement up to your living spaces for things such as drainage pipes and wiring that need to be sealed as well.  Use caulk to seal gaps that are smaller than a quarter-inch and spray foam for gaps from one quarter to 3 inches.

Your attic is another common place for air leaks.  If there are no large leaks to be fixed, you can still plug multiple small holes.  Leaks are often found where the walls meet the attic floor and around the attic’s kneewalls.

Hire an HVAC contractor to perform tests that will help them find any leaks reducing your home’s efficiency.  Here are some more of the most common spots where they can be found:

• Behind kneewalls
• Windows and doors
• Recessed lighting
• Attic hatch
• Open soffits
• Plumbing vents
• Furnace flues

For more information on how to seal air leaks that are causing you to lose energy each month, contact Crawford Servicestoday.  We proudly serve the Dallas area.

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

Crawford Services provides heating, air conditioning and plumbing services to all of North Texas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!      

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