Small Air Leaks May Be Costing You Big Money
(Energy News - September 2009)
Get Your Building In Shape Before Winter Arrives
Heating is a major expense for many companies. Be sure the air you pay to heat stays inside your building and the cold air stays outside.
Up to 30% of your heating energy can be lost through tiny, pinhole-sized leaks, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Any hole in the wall creates an opportunity for heated air to escape. With October slated as Energy Awareness Month, now is a great time to find and seal air leaks. Take a walk through your facility and check these places for airflow:
- Electrical outlets
- Switch plates
- Window frames and doors (If you can see daylight around a door or window, you have a leak)
- Baseboards
- Fireplace dampers
Also, be sure to check for gaps around pipes, wires and foundation seals.
Do-It-Yourself Tests
If you are having difficulty identifying leaks, you can do a pressurization test.
- Close all exterior doors and windows.
- Turn off combustion appliances, like gas-burning furnaces and water heaters.
- Turn on exhaust fans or use a large window fan to suck the air out of the rooms.
Doing this increases infiltration through cracks and leaks so you can find them more easily. You can light a candle or incense stick and carefully hold it around areas you suspect have leaks. The candle flame will flicker or the smoke will waver if you have an air leak.
Remember to check the outside of your building — especially areas where two different building materials meet.
Sealing Leaks
You can find materials to seal air leaks at home improvement and hardware stores. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on the products you purchase.
- Plug air leaks in walls with caulk or expansive foam sealant.
- Remove outlet covers and install inexpensive, pre-cut sheets of insulation underneath. Use special insulating plugs in all outlets that are not being used.
- Apply caulk and weatherstripping to eliminate leaks around windows and doors.
For More Information
If you have questions about sealing air leaks at your facility, or if you are interested in a complete energy audit, contact the Business Solutions Center at 877-444-0888, or your account executive.