Anyone who has felt a chilly draft inside on a windy day has detected a wind-effect leak—air forced through the house by wind. In order to stop the unwanted air flow through your home, you need to identify the source of the leak.

Less obvious are stack-effect leaks. These often combine to create larger energy losses than those due to wind. Stack-effect leaks are caused by warm air rising through the house in much the same way hot air rises through a chimney. The problem is, in winter, you’re paying to heat this air. The lost heated air sometimes travels in convoluted paths— through cracks in the foundation, up through interior walls, and through penetrations in ceilings. However it gets there, it then exits.

Wind-effect leaks are easy to find. On a windy day, hold a coat hanger with tissue or plastic wrap draped over it, or even place lighted candles near your doors and windows. Fluttering or flickering indicates a wind-effect leak and will most likely need to be treated by the addition of weatherstripping.

Stack-effect leaks are tougher to locate. The two main areas in which to concentrate your search are the foundation and the attic. Start by inspecting the foundation from the inside. Look for cracks in concrete or gaps in cinder blocks, paying particular attention to the mortar between blocks. Mark any defects for later caulking, or fill them on the spot. Also check for gaps between the foundation and the framing that rests upon it. Poorly fitting basement windows are another common source of problems.

In the attic, inspect plumbing vent stacks and chimneys passing through to the roof. Attic access panels or doors are also problem areas. Look for open floor joist ends in kneewall attics and keep an eye out for dirty insulation. This can be a telltale sign of a leak. The fiberglass insulation filters out the dirt as air passes through it. But if it’s not trapping air, it’s also not insulating.

In the interior of the house, look for gaps between drywall or plaster and trim, around electrical and plumbing outlets and openings, and where recessed lights, hood fans, and vents penetrate the ceilings or walls.

136 Best Ways to Save on Your Home Energy
Learn how to cut the cost of your utility bills with these simple, inexpensive, and effective measures. There are simple steps for cleaning coils on your refrigerator so it can cool better with less electricity, for sealing your house against hot and cold air leaks, for adding insulation where your house needs more, and making other energy-saving repairs and improvements.

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