Insulation Inspection: How contractors check for air leaks

We already talked about poor house insulation and how you could do the simplest test to determine the problem. Contractors know all those tricks of course but they also have their own ways to find out any insulation issues. Professionals with many years experience can use the knocking test. Uninsulated walls would sound hollow but only professionals could hear a difference in sound. 

Another way is to open an electrical outlet or a switch to be able look inside of it. For closer examination they could remove the entire electrical box to look into the wall cavity. 

Contractors could also look for a gap at the bottom of the drywall panel that is usually covered by baseboards. In some cases they need to cut a hole above the kitchen cabinets or in a closet. Those holes are small and could be easily covered with a patch later. 

Some of those investigation processes need special tools and knowledge. For example, which electrical outlets could be removed from the wall and which doesn’t. During the examination the contractor is also able to figure out the type of insulation your house currently has and recommend leaving it or replacing it with a better and more functional type. Don’t hesitate to ask as many questions you might have. Answers help you understand the budget of a possible renovation and it’s necessity.