Sealing The Leaks

Hiring a professional to caulk and weatherstrip your home can cut air leakage by up to 50 per cent and save you up to 30 per cent on your heating/cooling costs. Armed with specialized equipment and testing devices, a professional can pinpoint leakage and check and repair existing caulking and weatherstripping.

The most common sources of air leaks in the home are in the basement, through exterior walls and around electrical outlets. Air can also escape from windows, pipes, vents, exterior doors and fireplaces.

Caulking can be applied indoors and outdoors. On the interior, caulking is used to plug cracks, joints and other leakage points to prevent heated air from escaping. On the exterior, caulking will protect joints against rain and weather, but allow moisture to escape.

Weatherstripping is used in joints which need freedom to move, such as between doors and windows and frames. It is available in spring metal, plastic or vinyl v-type, rolled vinyl, rolled vinyl with aluminum channel, adhesive-backed foam, and door sweeps and shoes.

Wooden doors require sealing at the bottom with a door sweep. If the threshold is severely worn, it should be replaced.

Outlet and switch sealers are precut, insulated foam pads designed to stop air from leaking through electrical outlets and switches located on the exterior walls of your home.

Paying attention to the condition of the caulking and weatherstripping on your doors and windows will pay dividends in energy savings while increasing the comfort level of your home.

Source: Homeservice Club