No one wants a drafty home. Having small air leak usually means that you have to use your heater and air conditioner more often than you would like because your home gets too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter. Not only does this make your home uncomfortable, but it can lead to a significant increase in your energy costs.
Most people recognize that windows can be a major cause of air leaks that lead to a drafty home. But homeowners frequently forget to check their doorways to see if these are a problem. In many instances, doors with air leaks can be as much of a problem as drafty windows.
Want to check to see if you have drafty doors? It’s an easy process that will just take a few steps:
- Get your house ready for a home air pressure test. Close and seal all of the windows, doors and skylights in your home along with your vents and dampers in your HVAC system.
- Turn on all of the exhaust fans in your home, including in your bathrooms and kitchen.
- Light an incense stick or candle and walk around all of your windows, doors and skylights. You’ll be able to see smoke rushing through cracks leading outside if there are any leaks in your home.
While performing this test, there are a few things you should pay extra attention to as it relates to your doors:
- Check the weather stripping to see if it is worn or has any holes. This can lead to a seal with the door that is less than airtight.
- Visually inspect the doors for cracks. Any cracks in a door can lead to air leaks and water seepage.
- See if any hinges are loose, as you want to make sure the door fits properly.
Eto Doors contributed this blog post. You can find Eto Doors reviews at www.etodoors.com along with browsing their collection of residential and commercial doors.