Whether it’s freezing cold or sweltering hot, it’s important for us in Cleveland to pay attention to the energy efficiency of our homes.  Hot and cold air is constantly trying to escape through windows, doors, electrical outlets, light fixtures and gaps in the corner of a room.  The majority of our energy bills go toward heating and cooling, so it’s important to take steps to reduce the escape of hot air in the winter and cold air in the summer.

Here are some tips from a Cleveland air conditioning contractor on how to find and fix drafts in your home.

Locate the drafty areas

Walk around your house. If you’ve noticed that a room is much warmer or colder than the rest of your house, then take a close look at the windows and doors. Check the entire area around your windows and doors and see if you can find where air is escaping. If you have having trouble locating drafty areas, try walking around your home with a lit candle. If the flame flickers or goes out then you’ve found a draft.

Check your windows for cracks in the seal

Windows are the most common place where drafts can occur. If you don’t want to spend the money to replace the windows, then easy fixes like hanging heavy curtains or installing weather strips will help reduce the drafts.  In the summer months, keep your curtains or blinds closed so your rooms aren’t baking in the sun

Make sure your doors have a tight seal

Air can enter and escape through the door frame or from the space under the door. To solve this issue, install a door sweep at the bottom of your door.

Check your chimney

If you don’t want cold air to come down the chimney, be sure to install doors on your fireplace and cover when not in use.

Check your outlets and light fixtures

Air can easily escape into your attic or into the walls through outlets and light fixtures.  Make sure these are caulked to reduce the amount of air that escapes.

These are all small and inexpensive ways to make sure your home is energy efficient. Taking the time to find and fix drafts in your home is a sure way to lower your heating and cooling bills and increase your comfort.

If you have any questions about finding and fixing drafts in your home, give us a call at 216-663-6462.