Find Air Leaks In Attic

Turn on your heat or air conditioning system so it s constantly blowing.

Find air leaks in 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. But locating leaks can be difficult because they are often hidden under your insulation. Know where common attic air leaks are located. You might also notice some patches of ice or frost.

Climb into your attic. The dirt comes from dusty air leaking into your attic. In most homes however the most significant air leaks are hidden in the attic and basement. These are the leaks that significantly raise your energy bill and make your house uncomfortable.

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. From the attic side of your ceiling find the fixtures you noted. Gather your supplies and suit up. You ll have to pull back existing insulation to find them.

Electrical connections for fixtures fans and outlets require a hole cutout in your ceiling drywall. Sealing the ducts is easy once you find the leaks. You may even be able to locate bypasses visually by looking for insulation being blown about. Common attic air leaks include.

Use this map from energy star to learn where typical air leaks holes and gaps are located in the home. Close the attic access door or hatch behind you to maximize the effect. Any small crack or gap in the attic can be a source of. 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.