Effective Ways to Detect Air Leaks in Your A/C Unit

Is your house not staying as cool as it used to? Are your energy costs on the rise for seemingly no reason? If so, a slow air leak could be the culprit. In our extensive experience at AC-World, we’ve learned a thing or two about how you can quickly and easily detect air leaks in your home.

The vast majority of leaks come through your windows and doors. The good news is that these are easy to check. If you have doors or windows that shake easily, or if you can see light coming through the space between windows or doors and their frames, then they’re likely leaking – and you’re likely wasting both energy and money. Caulk or weather stripping are both affordable ways to fix these issues.

There are numerous other areas throughout your home that may have cracks and gaps that are letting cool air out and hot air in. Walk around and look for cracks and gaps in your electrical and gas service entrances, attic doors or hatches, wall and window air conditioning units, vents, fans, electrical outlets and light switches, baseboards, fireplaces, cable lines, and phone lines.

You can also check for leaks outside your house. Start with the exterior corners and make sure both sides match up without gaps. Check for cracks and/or holes around exterior water faucets, ensure siding is correctly aligned with windows and chimneys, and look for gaps where siding or bricks meet with the foundation.

The US Department of Energy offers some great tips for energy-saving, including how to keep hot air from leaking into your home. Remember that it all begins and ends with having the right air conditioning unit, but keeping the cold air in and the hot air out may involve some simple weather stripping, leak sealing, and regularly checking to ensure that your unit is running as efficiently as possible.