Stop Paying to Heat the Outdoors: A Simple DIY Trick to Find Drafts in Your Chicago Home

Between work, family, and the hustle of city life, keeping your Chicago home comfortable and efficient can feel like a full-time job. If your energy bills are mysteriously high, you might be literally paying to heat the outdoors through hidden drafts. The good news? Finding and fixing them is easier than you think.

The Candle & Incense Trick: Your DIY Draft Detector

You don’t need fancy equipment to find where cold air is sneaking into your home. One of the easiest methods is to use a simple candle or a stick of incense. This quick trick can save you money and make your space cozier, fast.

How to Find the Drafts in 3 Easy Steps

• Step 1: Light Your Tool. Carefully light a candle or a stick of incense.
• Step 2: Trace the Edges. On a windy day, slowly move the flame or smoking incense along the edges of your doorways, window frames, and even electrical outlets.
• Step 3: Watch for Movement. If you see the candle flame flicker unnaturally or the smoke from the incense get pulled or blown into the room, you’ve found a draft!

This simple test reveals the exact spots where your heated air is escaping, making it the perfect first step before you schedule a cleaning or tackle home maintenance.

Seal the Deal: Easy Fixes for a Cozier Home

Once you’ve identified the leaks, it’s time to plug them up. For most small cracks and gaps, caulk or weather stripping are your best friends. If you’re new to DIY, don’t be intimidated!

Look for caulk that comes in an easy-to-use squeeze tube, similar to a tube of toothpaste. It’s much less messy and gives you more control, making it perfect for beginners. Sealing these drafts is a great complement to a regular apartment cleaning routine, ensuring your home is not only clean but also energy-efficient.

When DIY Isn’t Enough, We’ve Got You Covered

We know your time is precious. While some tasks are great for a weekend project, keeping your entire home spotless is a bigger job. If you find yourself needing deep cleaning help or just want to maintain a consistently clean space without the effort, professional services are the way to go.

As a trusted Chicago cleaning company, we specialize in taking the stress out of housework. Our team provides reliable cleaning services in Chicago designed for busy people like you. Whether you need fast cleaning services for a last-minute guest or a regular home cleaning service to keep everything under control, we’re here to help.

Sometimes, the best solution is to find someone to clean my apartment so you can focus on what matters most. You can easily book an appointment online to get your space cleaned by pros.

lots of little places around the house where heat can escape and I can pay to essentially heat the outdoors, which I don’t want to do. >> Paying to heat the outdoors is definitely a losing proposition. One one easy way to find those spots is to either light a stick of incense or light a candle, walk and hold the candle or the stick of incense and run it along the edges of doorways, door jambs, around windows. If you see the wick of the candle flicker or if you see the smoke from the incense stick start to blow in, that’s a very good sign that you’ve got a draft there that needs to be plugged up. Caulk, weather stripping, those are all great options for those little leaks and cracks. >> Yeah, I think I have to get over my fear of doing some of this DIY stuff. >> But you can actually find caulk in a squeeze tube that’s a lot more reminiscent of like a tube of toothpaste and that tends to be much easier for a DIYer to use. >> Yeah, that is super helpful. Thank you. >> Of course. And you know, we’re we’re always here. We’re always happy to help. You can tap the link in our bio to sign up for our newsletters and you can get all kinds of advice delivered to your inbox weekly, too.