One of the major sources of energy loss in homes is the escape of your heat and air along with heat and cold leaking into your home. These leaks can be found in many different places so the best thing is to do a total run down of the possible areas and fix them. Loss of energy in your home can also mean loss of money. By repairing these leaks in your home you can save money on your electric bill each month meaning "more money in your pocket". In the steps below you will see how to check for leaks several different ways and suggestions on how to eliminate or at least make the air leaking more energy efficient.

Instructions
Things You'll Need:

* Candle, lit cigarette if you smoke, dollar bill, flashlight, weather stripping, caulk, caulk gun, door sweeps, You will not need all these thing so do your check before purchase

1.
Step 1

First check windows and doors throughout your house among anywhere else that has a gap of any sort.
2.
Step 2

Don't' forget the attic space and basement; check the windows, doors and among everything else.
3.
Step 3

Take a dollar bill and shut the window on the dollar bill all the way across. If it is a double hung window "meaning both windows slide do the same on the top too. If the dollar bill slides out easy then you have energy loss.
4.
Step 4

You can also use a flashlight. This will need to be done at night so you can see if the light shines through anywhere around the window. You will need someone to verify where your leaks are.
5.
Step 5

While at the window use a lit candle go all the way around the entire window. If the flame flickers then you are wasting energy. It may even blow out the candle.
6.
Step 6

If you smoke you can use a lit cigarette just as well as the candle. If the smokes is sucked out or blown at all you have energy leaking out.
7.
Step 7

Check your doors in the same way by shutting the dollar bill all the way around the door. If it pulls out easy then your door is leaking your money away. Also check it with the cigarette, candle or the flashlight.
8.
Step 8

Check all receptacles. It seems like an unlikely place for your energy to be lost, but it is very common. You can use the cigarette or the candle for this also.
9.
Step 9

Check under all bathroom and kitchen sinks. Plumbing pipes come out of the floor or out of exterior walls and is a good place for your energy to sneak out. You should be able to see these possible leaks, but check it with the candle or cigarette too if you like.
10.
Step 10

If your water heater is in the house check it also. This is another one you should be able to see but is always best to check it the same way. If it is under the house check where the pipes enter the house.
11.
Step 11

Check the attic. One of the best ways to do this is to go up and turn off the light. Make sure you are sitting or kneeling while you are in the attic. Do this during the day. You need someone with you to shut the pull down stair way or shut your access. Look all the way around the outside of the attic. If you see light then you are allowing air in and out. Your gable end vents is not a problem.

This can also be done at night. You will need a very bright flashlight to shine all the way around the outside of the attic and have someone outside on the ground looking for the light of the flashlight shinning through. Of course if they see the light there is a problem.
12.
Step 12

If you have a window air conditioner you should also check it. You can use the candle, cigarette or you can possibly just see it.

The central air and heat ducts in your house should be checked. This is not an easy thing to do because it will consist of crawling under the house or in the attic. If your vents are in the floor you will have to crawl under the house if your vents are in the ceiling you will have to climb through the attic. Be careful and stay on the ceiling joist or you could end up with a real big leak it you fall through the ceiling. Check all air duct vents and all the ducts themselves. This will have to be a visual task. Make sure all the air vents ducts are attached well.
13.
Step 13

The way to fix window leakage is to add weather stripping if there is none or if has become damaged in some way.
14.
Step 14

Another thing to do is caulk all the windows inside. I don't mean where the window shuts together, but around the casing, the jamb and any other areas that will take caulk especially where you see the leakage.
15.
Step 15

Caulk around the outside of the windows also. The leakage can be coming in or leaking out from un-caulked holes around J-channel,brick mould and other area on the outside.
16.
Step 16

The doors with leaks can be fixed by adding weather stripping all the way around the door if you detect leakage there also and needs replacing.
17.
Step 17

Caulking the outside brick mould on the siding can also help.
Make sure you caulk the door around j-channel and brick mould too.
18.
Step 18

You may also if they are not already there add door sweeps.
19.
Step 19

To fix receptacles you can take them off and add some insulation any where the insulation will possible go. Make sure you turn off the power before doing this.
20.
Step 20

Pipes under sinks with holes for energy to leak can be fixed by adding insulation all the way around the pipes if there is room, but this want keep out varmints.

Another way is to use a spray foam insulation that will seal around the pipes. This is messy so be very careful. It expands very fast so don't get carried away.
21.
Step 21

You can fix the leakage around the water heater in the same manner you fix under the sinks.
22.
Step 22

To fix the attic just simple add some insulation in the area of leakage. Make sure you don't pack the insulation tight it will loose its R=value. Unless it's an area that simply needs closing up and that's all.
23.
Step 23

Last the window air conditioner needs to be fixed. You can purchase new side pieces if that is the problem or you could caulk around the outside of the window air conditioner.

If it's central heat and air you will need to repair all air vents if necessary and wrap air ducts with duct tap specifically for the ducts.