The Sneaky Spot Where Drafts Are Getting Into Your Home (& The Solution You Need To Fix It)

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As cold weather sets in each year, you may notice new drafts creeping into your home. Nothing is more annoying when trying to heat your home during the winter than sneaky drafts coming from who knows where. The first place to check for drafts is your doors and windows, but we know that at least one of the spots you're missing is a bit smaller, but potentially just as problematic. Believe it or not, those mystery drafts could be from outdoor light switches and outlets. 

Outlets on the exterior of your home, such as those used to plug in the shop vac, can leave some open space that allows air from outside to enter your home. Not only will fixing this issue help prevent cold drafts from entering, but it may also help your heating system work more efficiently, as it won't have to contend with the extra cold air sneaking in. A more efficiently heated home could result in a lower energy bill. Luckily, there are some easy ways to detect if you have drafts coming in at these points, and there are kits that can help you fix those drafts.

Not sure where that draft is coming from? There are several steps you can take to find out. If you think it may be coming from your exterior outlets, you'll want to feel for air movement with your hand right in front of the interior outlets. If you don't feel air movement, but still suspect the outlets and wall switches as a source of the drafts, you can instead grab a stick of incense or a candle. Light them and then hold them by the outlets to see if the smoke moves inward or the flame flickers. If you have an infrared thermometer (like the ones used to check temperatures during COVID), you can check the walls of your home in any spot for cold areas that may indicate a drafty area.

If you find an air leak that needs fixing, socket seal kits are available on the market, like the Air-Tite Outlet Draft Sealer kit. You can also use caulk around the outlets to seal them more effectively; look for a sealant that is specifically designed for use around doors and windows. Both of these are fairly easy and affordable ways to deal with outlet drafts. These are great things to keep in mind if you're installing outdoor outlets in the future, too, as sealing them will help with drafts, as well.