Find Air Leaks In Attic

You may even be able to locate bypasses visually by looking for insulation being blown about.

Find air leaks in attic. You ll have to pull back existing insulation to find them. In most homes however the most significant air leaks are hidden in the attic and basement. Climb into your attic. While most of the air leaks in your attic are probably covered up by insulation you can detect these air leaks by looking for patches of dirty or dark insulation.

Know where common attic air leaks are located. Step only on the joists or lay plywood across the. Common attic air leaks include. Any small crack or gap in the attic can be a source of.

From the attic side of your ceiling find the fixtures you noted. Electrical connections for fixtures fans and outlets require a hole cutout in your ceiling drywall. You might also notice some patches of ice or frost. Close the attic access door or hatch behind you to maximize the effect.

The dirt comes from dusty air leaking into your attic. Air leaks also commonly occur at the edge of top plates which normally have a small gap of less than an inch between the plates and drywall. Each of these cutouts is a likely air leak. And just as you can feel the air from a leaky balloon you ll be able to confirm leaks in the attic by feeling the draft with your hand.

Turn on your heat or air conditioning system so it s constantly blowing. These are the leaks that significantly raise your energy bill and make your house uncomfortable. Gather your supplies and suit up. Use this map from energy star to learn where typical air leaks holes and gaps are located in the home.