I’ve chased my fair share of drafts over the years, and I’ll say this: pro window sealing *can* help, but it’s not always the silver bullet people hope for. It really depends on what you’re dealing with. Like you said,
That hits home. I once spent a bunch sealing up windows in my 1920s place, only to realize the cold air was sneaking in through the floorboards and some ancient outlets. Felt like chasing a ghost.“I’ve seen folks pay for pro window sealing, only to learn later the real problem was a drafty crawlspace or outlet boxes like you found.”
Incense sticks and a slow walk around the house have actually taught me more than any “energy audit” ever did. Just takes patience (and maybe a sweater). I get why people want to throw money at the problem—drafts are annoying—but unless your windows are truly shot or you can see daylight around them, paying a pro can be overkill.
Now, doors... that’s another story. Tried replacing a sliding door once and nearly lost my mind. There’s something about those things that brings out every curse word you know.
If your house is newer or already decently tight, I’d start with DIY stuff—weatherstripping, foam gaskets behind outlets, maybe some caulk where trim meets wall. Save the big bucks for when you’ve really exhausted the simple fixes. And yeah, once you start looking for drafts, it’s like whack-a-mole—there’s always one more spot laughing at you from some dark corner.