Best Way to Find Drafts in Your House

If you turn upwardly the thermostat and don't feel the rut, at that place'due south a problem. Old windows, worn doors, and poorly installed outlet covers are basically an open up invitation for the frigid winter air to make its way indoors. To avoid feeling the draft — and cut down on your heating bill — follow these tips from the Skilful Housekeeping Institute.

Pay Attention to These Key Areas

Before you go around looking for leaks and drafts, it helps to know where to showtime. Keep an eye out for these common problem areas that oftentimes let cold air in.

Electrical outlets
Switch plates
Door and window frames
Baseboards
Fireplace dampers
Attic hatches
Wall- or window-mounted air conditioners
Cable Goggle box and phone lines
Vents and fans

How to Detect Leaks

Switch on a flashlight.

At nighttime, shine a flashlight, like the Maglite Mini PRO LED Flashlight, on door and window frames. If the person on the other side sees low-cal, yous may have a leak.

Take hold of a dollar bill.

If y'all think doors are to blame, slip a dollar pecker (or standard piece of paper) under the door. If you can pull the dollar bill out without it dragging, then you have a significant air leak.

Light some incense.

Turn off the furnace and water heater and turn on exhaust fans. Concord a lit incense stick by windows, outlets, doors, and whatever other suspected areas. If smoke blows sideways, you lot probable have a leak.

Utilize a thermal leak detector.

Invest in a thermal leak detector, similar the Black & Decker TLD100, to read surface temperatures of walls, doors, floorboards, and more. If the reading is a lot colder than the air, there's a leak.

How to Get Rid of Drafts

For cracks less than 1/4 inch, use caulk.

To fill cracks near windows and doors, use a long-lasting caulk that's fabricated for outdoor use. GE Silicone 2+, a Good Housekeeping Constitute favorite, is 100% weatherproof, sun-proof, and freeze-proof (a.thousand.a. it'south basically indestructible). In general, wait for caulks made with mold-free technology that adhere to mutual surfaces.

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For cracks between 1/four inch and iii inches, use spray cream.

Avoid messy cream drips by finding a spray cream that comes with a harbinger, like Peachy STUFF Insulating Foam Sealant. This quick-action foam deflects water and is tacky to touch in merely eight minutes. Different caulk, spray foam can be more hard to employ and so we recommend dispensing it onto newspaper before tackling problem areas. To quicken the curing process — the fourth dimension it takes to settle — mist the area with water earlier and later spraying.

For doors, use a draft stopper.

Draft stoppers, similar this best-seller on Amazon, prevent cold air from sneaking in under doors. Information technology may non exist as discreet as caulk or sealant, only information technology gets the job done. You can choose from weighted fabric versions that stay on the floor or plastic typhoon guards that fit around the door itself.

For bigger problems, prepare your insulation.

If the insulation in your cranium doesn't reach the elevation of the flooring joists, in that location'south not enough to trap heat. Visit a home improvement shop for DIY attic insulation or hire someone to get the job done.