6 Reasons Your Home Is So Drafty — Plus Easy Ways to Fix It, According to Experts

Colder weather is here, and it's leading many of us to spend more time indoors where it’s warm and toasty. However, if your home isn't properly maintained and winterized, the cool winds from outside may find their way indoors—even when the heat is blasting. There are several sources that could lead to your home feeling drafty. So, we talked to experts to get to the bottom of things, and gathered tips to help you keep your home comfortable and warm this winter.

Meet the Experts

• Josh Lake, co-founder of Elephant Energy
• Richie Drew, vice president of operations at One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning

Common Sources of Drafts in Your Home

Doors and windows

The most frequent cause of a drafty home is improper air sealing and leaks from your doors and windows, says Josh Lake, co-founder at Elephant Energy. “This is especially true in older homes where windows and doors can warp, creating gaps that allow cold air to leak in,” he says.

Outlets, fixtures and pipes

Another source of drafts, one that you may not have considered, is the gaps around outlets and fixtures, Lake says. This could include air flowing in through outlet wall plates, ceiling light fixtures, and fans. Those pipes under your kitchen and bathroom sinks could also be allowing cold weather to enter your home.

Another source of drafts, one that you may not have considered, is the gaps around outlets and fixtures, Lake says. This could include air flowing in through outlet wall plates, ceiling light fixtures, and fans. Those pipes under your kitchen and bathroom sinks could also be allowing cold weather to enter your home.

Fireplaces

The fireplace designed to keep you warm could instead be a source of cold air that’s keeping you from enjoying a warm home. Lake says this could be due to open fireplace dampers.

The fireplace designed to keep you warm could instead be a source of cold air that’s keeping you from enjoying a warm home. Lake says this could be due to open fireplace dampers.

Floors

According to Richie Drew, vice president of operations at One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, drafts can also come through poorly insulated floors. “This is especially true in homes with basements, crawl spaces, or gaps between floorboards,” he says. “Without adequate insulation or sealing, cold air rises through the floor, making the house feel drafty.”

Attic

If your attic lacks proper insulation, Drew says this may explain why your home isn’t efficiently holding in heat. “Insulation makes it harder for outside weather to affect your home’s temperature inside,” he says.

Heating system

Your HVAC could be the source of those drafts, as well. For example, Lake warns that leaky ducts waste energy and reduce the efficiency of your central heating and cooling system.

If your heating system or furnace is outdated or improperly functioning, Drew says it may struggle to maintain a consistent temperature, which can lead to colder spots and a drafty feeling in parts of the home.

In addition, Drew warns that an improperly working furnace is not something that you should delay repairing. “Many Americans die every year from exposure to cold temperatures inside their homes, and in-home death can also occur from the cold exacerbating a secondary medical condition, including a heart attack, stroke, and respiratory illness,” he says.

Solutions for your drafty home

Start by inspecting the seals for any signs of damage or gaps. “If you see spider webs moving in the breeze or dust accumulating, that’s another telltale sign,” Lake warns. He recommends replacing worn-out weather stripping or using foam insulation tape to create a tight seal and prevent air leaks.

Another option is to use door sweeps. As an added bonus, weatherization also helps to stop pests from entering your home, as well.

Inspect the fireplace

For drafty fireplaces, identify the air leak, seal any cracks, and close the fireplace damper. Consider calling in an expert to do a thorough check.

Replace doors and windows

While weatherization is vitally important, sometimes, replacing some of your home’s components may be more effective. “If you have outdated windows and doors, consider replacing them altogether, which keeps the air in your home and your money in your pocket,” Lake says.

Check your heating source

Lake also recommends self-inspecting the ductwork for any signs of damage, such as tears, holes, or disconnected joints. “Seal any leaks with duct tape or mastic sealant to improve airflow and energy efficiency—but if you’ve got a lot of ductwork issues, call an expert to come take a look,” he says.

Homeowners can expect their furnaces to work reliably and effectively for 15-20 years. If you’re at the 15-year point, Drew says you should look into investing in a new one. “After 15-20 years, a furnace’s performance will most likely start to dwindle, and while you can make repairs to the furnace, over time it’s more cost-efficient to replace it,” he says.

“A good rule of thumb is: If the repair costs about 50% or more than a new furnace, you should get a new one,” Drew explains.

Insulate your attic

Drew also recommends contacting an expert to install insulation in your attic if that turns out to be a problem. “This service will save you money in the long run, as your attic will be able to better preserve the heat your system produces,” he explains.

Invest in newer technologies

Here’s something else to consider. Drew says air-source heat pumps and radiant floor heating can help to heat individual rooms, smaller areas and floors. “Many people prefer the efficient, even heat that radiant flooring provides, although this would require installation,” he says.

Get an energy audit

Setting up an energy audit can help you identify issues with your heating, cooling, insulation, and sealing.” One of the key elements of an energy audit is a blower door test, which involves mounting a powerful fan on an exterior door and creating a pressure difference to determine the amount of air leakage in your home,” Drew says. “From there, you can determine which energy efficiency upgrades will have the greatest impact on making your home comfortable, efficient, and environmentally friendly.”

This article was written by Terri Williams from Real Simple and was legally licensed through the DiveMarketplace by Industry Dive. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.

Editor's note: PG&E customers can get a free Home Energy Checkup.