Top Ten Air Leaks
posted by littlelittle on November 22, 2011
One of our favorite websites, Green Building Advisor, presented a two part write-up on the top 10 air leaks in existing homes. Air leaks carry moisture, which creates condensation and can cause mold and rot. Air leaks are responsible for a large portion of a home’s energy use. Addressing air leaks will have an impact on durability, heating & cooling bills, and air quality of your home. If you want to learn more about air leaks you can read Top 10 Air Leaks in Existing Homes Part One and Part Two from Green Building Advisor.
Top Ten Air Leaks in Existing Homes:
- The Chimney Case
- Light Fixtures and Plumbing
- Interior Wall Cavities
- Windows and Doors
- Basement Masonry and Sills
- The Floor
- Wall Penetrations
- Attic Hatch or Door
- Behind Stuff (behind a bathtub, wall cabinets, etc).
- Wood to Wood Connections
The easiest way to make your home more energy efficient is to seal any air leaks, and one that is often overlooked is the bathroom ventilation fan and exhaust vent. The back-draft flap these units come with do a very poor job of stopping leaks. To address this issue, I use a replacement insert fan from the Larson Fan Company (online). Their fans has a true damper built in, that does a great job in keeping warm air in during the winter and hot, humid air out in the summer. This product has reduced my annual energy bills by over ten percent. It saves the most when air conditioning is being used.