How to Check If There Is a Draft by the Window

Windows and doors are notorious for being drafty.

Sealing the leaks in your house is a smart way to conserve energy and save heating and cooling dollars. But before you can fix the leaks, you need to determine where they are. Some of the most common areas known for drafts are around windows. You can easily check your windows to find out if they need to be sealed by performing a simple, inexpensive test.

Things You'll Need

• Incense stick or smoke pencil
• Matches

Instructions

1. Choose a cool, breezy or windy day to conduct the test.

2. Shut all windows and doors in the house. Turn off the furnace.

3. Turn on all exhaust fans that send air to the outside. Examples include bathroom and stove vents.

4. Light an incense stick with a match or lighter. Gently blow on the incense flame to extinguish it. Be careful not to let hot ashes fall on anything flammable.

5. Alternatively, read and follow the instructions on a smoke pencil package to set it up and use it correctly. The smoke pencil is powered by batteries and uses wicks or fluid to create a wisp of white smoke. The amount of smoke it emits typically is controlled by a finger trigger.

6. Pass the incense stick or smoke pencil slowly around the edges of the window to check for drafts. If the smoke is either sucked out of the room or blown into the room, there's a draft.

Tips & Warnings

• You can find smoke pencils at your local hardware or home supply store. You can find incense sticks at most department or tobacco stores.

References

• Energy Savers; Detecting Air Leaks; February 2011
• Eartheasy: Energy Efficient Heating