Identifying Draft Source and How to Prevent Them in Your Home

Do you ever notice unexpected chills in your home during colder seasons, even when the heat is on? Or perhaps in the summer, you struggle to keep the AC air inside? These issues may indicate that your home is drafty, allowing air to sneak in through various entry points and causing discomfort and high energy bills. As experts in Energy Saving Solutions serving the Twin Cities and Twin Ports area, we at DBS Repair are here to discuss drafts: identifying the sources and how to prevent them!

 

Draft Sources and How They Happen

Drafts can occur in multiple ways, such as through air leaks in gaps, cracks, or improperly sealed areas. This can also be caused by the "Stack Effect," which is the vertical movement of air throughout your home. When the air inside your home is warmed by your heating system, it rises upwards and escapes to the attic through gaps and cracks in the ceiling, joints, windows, uneven floors, and even lighting fixtures and electrical outlets. As the air exits the top of your home, it creates negative pressure, which in turn sucks in more air through the bottom level of your home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These drafts not only cause discomfort throughout your home, but can also lead to increased energy bills because your heating or cooling systems are working harder to compensate for the unbalanced temperatures. Drafts can also bring in dust, allergens, and pollutants from the outdoors, greatly impacting your home's air quality.

 

 

Prevention in Your Home

To prevent drafts from entering your home, start by identifying where they are coming from. Pay special attention to your home's basement or crawlspace for air leaks and the attic for air escape. Proper air sealing and insulation in these areas will eliminate the leaks and help maintain the temperature difference.

 

Additionally, be mindful of areas such as walls, windows, doors, and joints throughout the home. Drafts can be caused by various factors like the age of the home, the materials it was made of, and how it was constructed for the installation of electrical outlets and other home needs. While you can attempt DIY fixes using caulk, expanding foam, and other materials, it's always a good idea to have an insulation expert examine and accurately diagnose these issues.

 

Contact Us for a Free, No-Obligation, Inspection!

Identifying and fixing drafts can be tricky, especially in hard-to-reach areas like attics or behind walls. If you're unsure where the drafts are coming from, consider contacting a professional in home energy solutions. At DBS Residential Solutions, we specialize in identifying energy leaks and providing long-term solutions like insulation, air sealing, and more. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation estimate and get to the bottom of what is really going on with your home!