Just like the zipper on a coat, all the gaps in your house envelope need to be sealed for optimum efficiency and comfort.

Most homeowners know of some areas around their home where there is air leakage or infiltration to or from the outdoors that affects comfort and energy costs. But these small gaps can add up when a more extensive evaluation is done of the whole house. Commonly known areas of leakage include entry doors and old windows. But there are many other less conspicuous points that can allow even more leakage than might ever be imaged.

To track down problem areas, first do a visual inspection. Look at all doors and windows for any cracks and gaps. Check areas where different materials meet, such as between brick and wood siding, between the foundation and walls, and between the chimney and siding. Also look at:

• Electric, gas, cable and phone service entrance points
• Outdoor water faucets
• Dryer vents
• Foundation and house framing interface
• Window or through the wall air conditioners

But it's not just air leakage to the outdoors to be concerned about. There are also some not-so-obvious points where air movement occurs between the living areas and unconditioned attics or crawlspaces. These include:

• Hatches to attics or crawlspaces
• Stairways to attics or basements
• Drain and water pipes extending into walls or floors
• Soffit areas over kitchens counters or in bathrooms
• Wiring and plumbing chases
• Recessed light fixtures
• Baseboards and floor interface
• Ductwork

Loose fitting ductwork running through unconditioned areas can account for a substantial amount of leakage since the air in the ducts is pressurized.

Once you identify possible areas of leakage, you can confirm your suspicions by depressurizing the air within the house. For this test:

• Turn off your furnace or air conditioning system on a very windy day.
• Shut all windows and doors.
• Turn on all exhaust fans that blow air outside, such as bathroom fans or stove vents.
• Light an incense stick and pass it around the edges of suspected leakage points.
• Wherever the smoke is sucked out of or blown into the room, there's air movement that needs to be blocked by air sealing.

Air sealing involves using caulks, foams, gaskets, mastics, fiberglass tape, heat-sealed aluminum tape and weatherstripping materials to seal all gaps.

For a more thorough and accurate measurement of air leakage in your home, you can hire a qualified technician to conduct an energy survey, or a more detailed energy audit. These technicians do a visual inspection but also use special equipment to do quantitative assessments of the amount of leakage or infiltration.

Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a professional if you have questions about a specific issue. More home safety and maintenance information is available online at www.housemaster.com.

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