Save Energy Instantly: Detect and Fix Air Leaks Around the House

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Tired of hot air coming inside during the summer while cool, conditioned air escapes, wasting valuable energy?

The U.S. Department of Energy claims almost one-third of escaped air travels through gaps and holes in walls, floors and ceilings. Detect and fix air leaks for a quick and simple way to end the problem and increase your HVAC equipment’s performance.

Windows, doors and more

Look for air leaks around doors and windows by holding a lit candle a few inches from the frame. If it flickers there’s a leak. A candle can also help locate smaller leaks around electrical sockets and light fixtures, as well as around baseboards, molding and telephone jacks. Be sure to shut off your HVAC system before performing this test.

Caulking and weatherstripping these leaks is easy and offers a rapid return on your investment. Foam gaskets will fix leaks behind outlets and switch plates. Take off the faceplate, place the gasket between the drywall and switch box then replace the plate.

Dryers and ceilings

An improperly sealed dryer vent allows cold air into your vent, into the dryer and into your home. Find leaks by shining a light from outside or holding a lit candle near the open door and watching for drafts. Before sealing the leaks, remove the vent and clean it with soap and warm water. Put the vent halfway in and caulk the space between the vent, the opening and the vent tube. Push the vent tight into the wall and place a drop of caulk where it meets the wall.

Check your attic for electrical connections for light fixtures, fans and outlets to see if air’s leaking. Seal the cutouts with acrylic latex, silicone caulk or low-expansion polyurethane foam.

Insulation

Soiled insulation could mean there are openings where air’s leaking. Low expansion spray foam works well for sealing these gaps.

Apollo Home Heating, Cooling and Plumbing has served homeowners in greater Cincinnati since 1913. Contact us for more information about how to detect and fix air leaks and other heating and cooling topics.

Image via Shutterstock.com

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"Ernie & Mike did a superb job on my new furnace and A/C installation. Despite having more than a day’s work to do, they came in and stayed until the job was done. They were organized, efficient, and protected the rest of the house well. Got both furnace and A/C installed the same day. Ernie was courteous, informative, and clearly knew his job better than anyone I’ve encountered before. The units look so good guests now get The Tour of our new system. Apollo is clearly not a fly-by-night company. I would recommend them to anyone in need of a new furnace and/or A/C."
- Jerry A.
"I called Apollo because of a water leak I thought I had in our upstairs shower going into the kitchen. Robbie came and assured me everything was fine & looked at all the other plumbing. He ended up changing a few pipes for our washer & clearing a drain. He was very nice & knowledgeable with all my questions. I ended up signing up for the care plan & was very happy with my service."
- Cassandra B.
"The team at Apollo exceeded my expectations. As a business owner, my attention to the details and commitment to providing excellent service is high. From the sales rep. to the installation team, everyone’s performance was outstanding. For example, the installation team went to great lengths to protect our floors, placing floor runners and across the wood floors and up the stairs. They even were spot washing walls upon their departure. I highly recommend this company."
- Randy B.
"We scheduled an estimate AND a tune-up. We knew something was wrong with our furnace, but hoped we could make it through the rest of the season. Upon telling Bill what our furnace was doing, he warned us immediately what the possible outcome was going to be; a cracked heat exchanger. He watched the flames roll backward, tested carbon monoxide levels, which were so high they meter’s last reading was 5,600 before saying “high”. He immediately shut it down, tagged it, and explained that with levels that high and children in our home he wanted off right away. He continued his inspection and showed us via a camera that not only was it cracked in multiple places, but had holes all over it. He gave us a few options for repairing it; his knowledge as well as genuine concern was beneficial and refreshing. Luckily we also scheduled an estimator, Micah, to come too and we were able to get costs between repairing and replacing (with several options). We decided to replace with a much higher efficiency furnace and one sized properly to our home. Hands down, not only did they both provide us great service and knowledge, but without sounding dramatic, they may have saved our lives. This was our first time calling Apollo, but it won’t be our last."
- Sarah B.
"Apollo is an excellent company. I always receive great service. Alex A. was professional and friendly. He kept me informed during the process of checking my furnace and heat pump to make sure they were working properly. The company makes sure you are notified who is coming and when they are on the way. All my interactions with the company have been wonderful."
- Beverly S.
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