As the wind howls outside and temperatures drop, you may reach for another blanket or crank up the thermostat, only to wonder why your home feels drafty. The culprit- drafts. These sneaky air leaks can make your living space uncomfortable and drive up energy costs. But what causes drafts, and why do they persist even in seemingly insulated homes by Ottawa insulation companies?

At Ottawa Insulation, we are a leading company providing superior insulation services to clients throughout the region. Here, we’ll explore the common reasons behind drafty homes, the impact on your comfort and energy bills, and practical solutions to create a cozier, more efficient living environment.

By understanding the root causes of drafts and taking proactive steps to address them, you can transform your drafty house into a warm, inviting sanctuary that keeps the cold at bay and your energy costs in check.

The Science Behind Drafts

To effectively combat drafts, it’s essential to understand the science behind them. Drafts occur due to air movement, which is caused by differences in air pressure and temperature. In your home, this typically means warm air rising and escaping through gaps in the upper levels, while cold air is drawn in through openings at lower levels. This phenomenon, known as the “stack effect,” creates a continuous cycle of air movement that can make your home feel drafty and uncomfortable.

Common Causes Of Drafts In Homes

Common reasons for drafty homes include the following:

Poor Insulation – Inadequate or deteriorating insulation is one of the primary causes of drafts. Over time, insulation can settle, compress, or degrade, reducing its effectiveness in maintaining a consistent temperature throughout your home.
Air Leaks Around Windows and Doors – Windows and doors are typical draft sources. Worn weatherstripping, warped frames, or gaps around the edges can allow cold air to seep and warm air to escape.
Gaps in Exterior Walls – Cracks or gaps in your home’s exterior walls, often around utility penetrations/at points where different building materials meet, can create pathways for air infiltration.
Unsealed Attic Access Points – An unsealed attic hatch or pull-down stairs can be a significant source of drafts, as warm air naturally rises and escapes through attic insulation.
Chimney and Fireplace Issues – A poorly sealed or uncapped chimney can direct cold air into your home, even when the fireplace isn’t in use.
Electrical Outlets and Switch Plates—If not properly insulated or sealed, these small openings in your walls can contribute to significant air leakage.
Ductwork Problems – Leaky or poorly insulated ductwork can distribute cold air throughout your home, creating drafts in unexpected places.

The Impact Of Drafts On Your Home And Comfort

Drafts in your home can have many impacts, such as:

Energy Inefficiency -Drafts force your heating system to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature, leading to increased energy consumption and higher utility bills.
Inconsistent Indoor Temperature – Drafts can create cold spots and temperature fluctuations throughout your home, making maintaining a consistent, comfortable environment challenging.
Moisture Issues – Air leaks don’t just let in cold air; they can also allow moisture to penetrate your home, potentially leading to mold growth and structural damage over time.
Reduced Indoor Air Quality – Drafts can bring in outdoor pollutants, dust, and allergens, compromising your home’s air quality and potentially affecting your health.

Detecting Drafts in Your Home

Before you can address drafts, you need to locate them. Here are some methods to help you identify problem areas:

Visual Inspection -Look for gaps around windows, doors, and other potential entry points. Check for daylight coming through cracks or seams.
The Candle Test– On a windy day, light a candle and slowly move it around potential draft sources. The flame will flicker or smoke will waver when it encounters air movement.
Thermal Imaging -Professional energy auditors often use thermal cameras to detect temperature differences that indicate air leaks and insulation gaps.
Blower Door Test -This professional test uses a large fan to depressurize your home, making detecting air leaks throughout the structure easier.

DIY Solutions for Reducing Drafts

Some basic ways you can reduce drafts include the following:

Apply weather stripping around doors and windows to create a tighter seal and prevent air infiltration.
Use caulk to seal gaps and cracks around window frames, baseboards, and other potential air leak points.
Install door sweeps at the exterior door bases; it will help block drafts from that point.
Apply plastic film to windows during colder months to create an additional barrier against drafts.
Install foam gaskets behind electrical outlets and switch plates to reduce air leakage through these small openings.
Ensure your attic is properly insulated to prevent warm air from escaping through the roof.
When not using your fireplace, install a chimney balloon to prevent drafts from coming down the flue.

Long-Term Solutions For A Draft-Free Home

While DIY solutions can provide immediate relief, long-term fixes require more extensive measures. It’s best to have a professional air seal for your home, addressing hard-to-reach areas and ensuring a comprehensive approach to draft reduction. To improve overall thermal performance, consider upgrading your home’s insulation, particularly in the attic, walls, and basement. Get your ductwork professionally sealed and insulated to prevent air leaks and maintain consistent temperatures.

The Benefits of a Draft-Free Home

When you have a draft-free home, you benefit in many ways, such as:

Improved Comfort
Lower Energy Bills
Enhanced Indoor Air Quality
Increased Home Value
Lower Environmental Impact

Professional Home Insulation Services

At Ottawa Insulation, we specialize in comprehensive home energy assessments and solutions tailored to your needs. Our team of experienced professionals can identify hidden air leaks, assess your insulation’s effectiveness, and recommend targeted improvements to maximize your home’s energy efficiency. We use advanced diagnostic tools like blower door tests and infrared cameras to pinpoint even the most elusive drafts.

We can help with high-quality insulation and help you create a holistic energy management plan that addresses insulation, ventilation, and moisture control. By partnering with Ottawa Insulation, you’re not just fixing drafts but investing in long-term comfort, energy savings, and home performance.

If your home feels drafty, don’t let it compromise your comfort and budget any longer—contact us today to discover how we can transform it into an energy-efficient, cozy space. You can email Ottawa Insulation via this Online Form or call us at 613 882 3626 to discuss your requirements with our team.

We all know that everything is going up in cost worldwide. Bills are no different. The average cost of gas bills nowadays is $100 dollars monthly. As much as this seems odd to you, we all know that gas bills can go even higher than that per month. You may be wondering what could be causing this, and multiple issues could be making your gas bill rise, but air leaks, drafts, and cold floors are a few signs that poor insulation might be a big part of the problem.

Here’s Where The Problem Lies

Having your bill rise in cost and not knowing its cause or how to fix it can be terribly stressful, especially in these times. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. We know that there are many causes of higher bills, but there are a few issues that we can pinpoint for you to check out in your own home. If you continue reading below you will see that there can be three major problems that actually involve the insulation in your home.

Old Insulation in the Attic

If you have old or no insulation in the attic, this can be a problem, and this can result in all your heat rising and leaking through your roof, which can cause damage in a number of ways. Making sure the insulation in the attic is of good quality and that there’s enough is key to keeping your heat inside your home.

Little to No Insulation in the Walls

Having little to no insulation in the walls means that all your heating is going to waste. The issues here are that you will have drafts, cold walls, freezing rooms, and frosty windows, which will cause you to turn up the heat even more and raise your gas bill. Call professionals to come and look, and they’ll let you know what you need to do to insulate your walls properly.

Empty Crawl Spaces

Having no insulation in your crawl spaces can make things even worst for you during the winter season. In this scenario, you have more serious issues to deal with. Cold floors, drafts blowing up in your ductwork, and pipes have the potential to freeze and burst in this state. Making sure all those crawl spaces are filled with good quality insulation can save you so much money.

There can be many issues that are the cause of why your gas bill is going up so high, but a good bit of these problems can be resolved easily. Calling a professional to come and look around to inspect all your insulation areas can save you in the long run and prevent your gas bill from going any higher than it should be. With Ottawa Insulation, we can guarantee a job well done by our professionals. If you would like to get an estimation, please visit our website here for more information. Our professionals are waiting to hear back from you.

Why Your Home Feels Drafty