TIP OF THE MONTH: SEAL LEAKS AROUND DOORS AND WINDOWS It is estimated that the average home loses up to 30% of its heating and cooling energy through air leaks. The most significant air leaks tend to occur around windows and doors. To stop air leaks and prevent your home heating and cooling dollars from vanishing in the wind, it’s important to seal any air leaks around windows and doors. CHECK FOR AIR LEAKS With windows and doors closed, hold a lit stick of incense near window and doorframes where drafts might slip in. Watch for smoke movement. Note what sources need caulk, sealant, and weather-stripping. SEAL AIR LEAKS AROUND WINDOWS If you have old windows, caulking and adding new weather-stripping goes a long way toward tightening them up. • Bronze weather-stripping (about $12 for 17 feet) lasts for decades but is time-consuming to install. • Self-stick plastic types are easy to put on but don’t last very long. • Adhesive-backed EPDM rubber weather-stripping (about $8 for 10 feet) is a good compromise, rated to last at least 10 years. • Nifty gadgets called pulley seals (about $9 a pair) block air from streaming though the holes where cords disappear into the frames. SEAL AIR LEAKS AROUND DOORS Check for air leaks, and replace old door weather-stripping with new. • Foam-type tape has an adhesive backing; it’s inexpensive and easy to install. If it comes loose, reinforce it with staples. • Felt is either adhesive-backed or comes with flexible metal reinforcement. it must be tacked or glued into place. It’s cheap and easy to install, but it has low durability. • Tubular rubber, vinyl, and silicone weather-stripping is relatively expensive and tricky to install, but it provides an excellent seal. Some types come with a flange designed to fit into pre-cut grooves in the jambs of newer doors; check your existing weatherstripping and replace with a similar style. Check exterior trim for any gaps between the trim and your door frames, and the trim and your siding. Caulk gaps with an exterior latex caulk ($5 for a 10-ounce tube). SEAL DOOR BOTTOMS If a draft comes in at the bottom, check the condition of the threshold gasket. Replace worn gaskets. If you can see daylight under the door, you may need to install a new threshold with a taller gasket (about $25 for a 36-inch door). Or, install a weather-resistant door sweep designed for exterior doors (about $9). Door sweeps attach directly to the door and are easy to install. ift.tt/1cIpmJQ
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 17:00:31 +0000
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