Friends, when we run the AC, furnace, or heater in the room, we are often surprised to see the bill. Many analyses show that small gaps and cracks can be a major reason for this huge expenditure. As shown in the chart below, about 45% of the total energy of the house goes into heating, while only 9% is spent on cooling. That is, most of the energy you spend goes into keeping the room warm or cool.
And the truth is that if you add up all the small gaps and cracks in the room, it shows the effect of an open window throughout the year. According to reports, about 20-30% of energy is wasted due to these gaps. Energy Star states that simply sealing these leaks can save an average of 15% on your heating/cooling bill. By taking such simple measures, you can make your room more comfortable and see an immediate reduction in your electricity/gas bill.
These gaps are often invisible to us, but the infrared image below clearly shows that hot or cold air is leaking around a door or window. These hidden leaks cause the heating and cooling system to run longer because hot air escapes and cold air is drawn in. According to Energy Star, sealing these leaks can save you about 15% on your heating/cooling bill.
Now imagine if you have a heater or AC running in the room, and you feel a slight coolness even when you stand near the door. You are paying extra bills every month because of that leak! So the next time you see air coming from somewhere even after heating or cooling the room, don’t ignore it. What gaps, cracks, and leaks should you fix to improve heating and cooling efficiency?
Where do the leaks occur?
Air leaks into a room through many small, invisible openings. Some common places are
- Window and door edges: If they move when you shake them or if light is visible around the edges, air is coming in from there.
- Electrical outlets and switch plates: Check the areas of the wall where electrical panels or switches are located. These often have small gaps or broken seals that can allow air in.
- Pipes and vent fittings: There may be gaps and cracks around water or gas pipes and bathroom/kitchen vent pipes. These parts often don’t seal properly when they come out of the wall.
- Baseboard and wall joints: There may be gaps under the baseboards along the floor edge or at the wall-ceiling joints, especially in older homes.
- Floorboards: Gaps in timber floors, especially over unconditioned spaces like basements, can let cold air in.
- Duct: Duct leakage occurs when conditioned air escapes through holes, gaps, or poorly sealed joints in your building’s air ducts
- Attic hatch: If a small attic door doesn’t close properly, cold air from above can come into the house.
- Fireplace/chimney: If the damper on a fireplace isn’t closed, warm air in the room escapes directly outside.
Look for these signs, because even these small gaps can cause big energy losses.
How to repair cracks and gaps?
Energy.gov recommends applying weatherstripping around movable parts of doors and windows and filling cracks that are stationary (such as wall or ceiling gaps) with caulk (sealant). In addition, you can try some simple DIY solutions:
- Caulk: Use a caulking gun to seal gaps and cracks. This seals the gap and prevents air from escaping.
- Weatherstripping: A rubber/foam strip that is glued to the door or window frame. When closed, air cannot escape. Rubber, foam, or metal strips are available on the market.
- Spray foam sealant: This spray is great for filling large gaps and cracks around pipes. It expands to seal the gaps.
- Draft stopper: A rubber or cloth strip that fits under a door to keep air from entering the room from underneath.
Most of these items are easy to find at your local hardware store and are inexpensive. Whether you apply sealant or weatherstripping, you can do the job yourself in a short time. If installing new doors/windows isn’t possible, transparent plastic sheeting works just as well. Taping it over the window helps keep heat in the room.
DIY vs. professional help
If you prefer, you can have a professional perform a blower-door test, in which the room is pressure tested with a special pump to catch any leaks. But in general, there are several things you can do yourself:
First, turn off all burning appliances (heaters, stoves, etc.) to keep the room pressure stable.
Fan test: Close all the windows and doors of the room and place a large fan on one window. Run it to draw in the outside air, which will create a slight negative pressure in the room, and air movement will be seen where there are leaks.
Incense stick test: Light a smoke stick in the room and take it near the gaps and cracks. Wherever the smoke is seen being drawn or waving, air is leaking.
Benefits of savings and comfort
After adopting these measures, you will see the difference yourself. When the gaps and cracks are closed, the room temperature will remain the same, and the heater/AC will have to be used less to fight the heat and cold. Apart from this, dust, insects, and pollution coming from outside into the rooms also decrease significantly. According to experts, stopping leaks reduces the outside noise in the room, and the environment also becomes more comfortable. In simple words, with a little effort, you can make your home more comfortable and save money every month. If a little energy is saved every month, then this saving becomes tremendous in a year. Less electricity consumption means fuel savings and also has an impact on the environment. In such a situation, make small improvements; along with saving your pocket, the earth will also get relief.
Even after repairing the cracks, it is good to do periodic inspections. You should check the condition of your doors and windows at the beginning of every season. If seals are loose, repair them with caulk or weatherstripping. You can regular inspection to keep these fixes effective for a long time.
