Dealing With A Drafty Home

The seasons are starting to turn and, as they do, some of us might find that our home isn’t quite as good at keeping the heat out as it used to be. If you feel a draft in your home, it’s a good idea to inspect all of the usual suspects now before it starts to get really cold. Here, we’re going to look at where you can find drafts and how you can shut them up for good.

Fix Your Drafty Home for Good

The doors

Air leaks typically form when the seals of the home tend to come undone. One of the most common places this happens is the front and back doors of the home. You can seal up these air leaks with caulk, or you can use things like a draft excluder as a temporary solution but it’s always a good idea to replace a door when it starts becoming really inefficient at keeping the cold out.

The roof

Problems with the roof can be doubly damning for the home. For one, not only can drafts come in through a damaged roof, but they can also let a lot of heat out since heat rises in the home. That’s not to mention the often expensive damp and water damage that can be caused by a leaky roof. You should fix your roof at the first sign of damage rather than wait for things to get worse.

The windows

The rules of sealing the homework for windows are much the same way as for doors. However, with windows, the issues can be even more prevalent as there are more of them, meaning more of a surface area for heating to escape and drafts to come in. As such, it’s always recommended that you replace them with the help of a window company. Otherwise, you might find yourself constantly having to patch up new air leaks.

The walls

Your walls might seem like the most resilient parts of the home, so how can they possibly let in drafts? Well, cracks can form in walls over time and things like loose siding can open up a cap for the cool air to start to come in. These cracks be tougher to find, but it’s best to start by sealing up any cracks you can notice on the outside or inside and think about replacing old siding if it’s coming loose.

The chimneys

Not all homes have chimneys nowadays so if you don’t, then you’re clearly safe. However, if you do have a chimney, then there’s a good chance it’s letting plenty of drafts into the home if your fireplace doesn’t have a sealing door. You can have your chimney sealed if you’re not using it, or you can get a chimney cover for a more temporary option.

A draft can be a lot more than a little annoyance. It can make it dangerously cold in your home if left alone, leading to health risks and burst pipes. Take care of it as soon as you can.