Stop Drafts This Season With A Thermographic Inspection

The effects of cold weather on buildings and homes can be detrimental and lead to discomfort for your family throughout the winter season. Homeowners need to know how to protect their property from the negative effects of cold weather.

The most common way of protecting a home from the harsh winter is by insulating it properly. This is mostly done during construction by adding insulation inside the walls, ceilings, and floors. However, insulation is not always enough because other factors can affect a building or home other than its insulation. Insulation levels are also impacted by air leaks in the building envelope which in turn can cause drafts coming in through doors or windows as well as gaps between slabs and walls.

Most winter drafts are caused by a bad window seal. To avoid this, it’s important to make sure that your windows and doors shut properly and are efficiently sealed and insulated from the outside elements.

A winter draft affects your home’s heating in several ways. Not only does it lower the temperature in your home because cold air is sucked in through the leaks in windows or doors but it also increases energy consumption and can increase the humidity levels which leads to condensation on surfaces and may also encourage mold growth inside walls and ceilings of your house. There are Home Inspections Suwanee designed specially to address issues such as drafts and leaks in your homes using high-grade devices.

How Are Drafts Created?

During winters the cold air from the outside slams against your homes. This creates a pressure difference between the air inside and the one outside. This pressure difference causes a suction effect and while the warm air leaks out, it is quickly replaced by the cooler air from outside creating a draft. 

Remember studying warm air rises in school, well that’s exactly the phenomenon that happens through our chimneys and fireplaces as well. The heat is pushed up the chimney and a pressure difference is created in the room that leaves behind a drafty feeling. 

Check Your Home For Drafts

The windows in your home are probably not as tight as they could be. They might have gaps that let cold air in, and the seal around the window might be a bit loose. There are many ways to combat drafty windows. One of them is to seal them tight. If you want to get rid of drafty windows, this is what you should do:

1. Call a professional to inspect your windows for gaps or cracks.

2. Have them apply a specialized sealant that can fill the gaps and seal the window from both outside and inside.

3. Consider hiring a thermographic inspection to check for any areas that are still drafty.

Check Weather Stripping

The most important job of weather stripping is to prevent air from escaping from the home. The purpose of weather stripping is to seal the joints and gaps in the window frames or doors. Weather stripping can be replaced if it becomes damaged or worn out. It is important to have a professional check the weather stripping before replacing it so that you don’t damage the windows or doors by replacing it improperly. It is important to check the weather stripping around your windows and doors before winter comes. It will help you avoid a cold, drafty home this winter. A lot of people don’t realize that they have holes in their weather stripping until they notice a draft coming through or see their caulk deteriorating.

Check For Drafts

The point from where the draft is surfacing is not always easy to put your finger on. But, there are ways you will be able to detect the signs of a draft and take appropriate action. Look for signs of light around the perimeter of the windows or doors. If you notice that there is a light source outside, chances are that there is a draft in the building. If you want to go the extra length purchase an infrared thermometer and use it to find any heat loss from within your home or office. Temperature changes in the area can indicate that there is a draft. 

Install Door Sweeps

Door sweeps are used to protect the bottom of your entrance door from drafts, dirt, mud, leaves, and other debris. They can be temporary ones that you can slide onto the bottom of the door or permanent ones that you can install by screwing in.

If you want a more professional look, then installing a permanent door sweep is what you need to do. You should also make sure that it has a strong adhesive so it won’t fall off easily.

Door sweeps are not only used for aesthetic purposes but they also have functional benefits as well. For example, they reduce noise levels by dampening sound and keeping drafts out of your home or office.

Invest In Double Pane Windows

Double pane windows have two panes of glass that are separated by an air space. This helps to stop heat from escaping, which means you will not have to turn up the heating as much. Double pane windows also help to save money in older homes that have single pane windows. Single pane windows can lead to drafts and condensation issues, which will eventually lead to water damage and mold growth. Single pane windows are still a viable option for homeowners looking for a cheaper solution or those who don’t want the hassle of replacing their entire window frame.

What is Thermography and How Does it Help Home Inspectors?

Thermography is a technique of imaging heat emitted from objects, typically to detect structural or functional problems. It is often used in construction and engineering, as well as manufacturing. Thermography can be used by Home Inspectors Suwanee to help them inspect draft homes more efficiently. They can also use the same technology to help them find hidden issues such as mold, asbestos, water damage, and other issues that are not visible to the naked eye. 

Thermography is an advanced tool that helps home inspectors find hidden issues in a structure that would otherwise be hard to detect. During a thermographic inspection, a home inspector can detect leaks through air movement along with insulation discrepancies. Thermography allows home inspection companies to check for cracks and water damage. Thermography can also be used to check for hidden structural problems that may be missed by a visual inspection.