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Caulking and Weatherstripping - Keep Comfortable, Save Energy Too

No-cost Low-cost caulking, weatherstripping and insulating tips

If you put together all the cracks and leaks in the average Canadian home, you would end up with a hole in the wall the size of a basketball.

Think about the next time you hear your air conditioner or furnace kick on! Air leakage represents 25 to 40 per cent of the average heat loss in the winter and cool air loss in the summer, so it's worth your time to "tighten up" your home to keep it at a comfortable temperature.

And here's the good news: caulking, weatherstripping and insulating are simple enough for most do-it-yourselfers and don't require a lot of special tools or skills.

Be a cold air detective To hunt for air leaks, all you need is two sticks of incense and a windy day. Light the incense and hold the sticks together so you can clearly see the smoke. A strong leak will blow the smoke away and make the sticks glow brightly. A smaller leak will puff the smoke in one direction or draw it in.		Where does the air leak in and out? Statistically, air leakage in a house breaks down like this: 25%   Basement sill plate (where the wood frame meets the foundation) 20%   Exterior electric outlets 13%   Windows 13%   Pipe and wire entrances 10%   Vents 7%   Baseboards, light fixtures, electrical outlets and attic hatches 6%   Exterior doors 6%   Fireplaces		Is your fireplace damper closed? Leaving your damper open when a fire isn't burning sucks warm air out of your home. If you don't use your fireplace, consider getting it sealed.
Plug those outlets Blocking up electrical outlets and switches with the right weatherstripping material is one of the easiest, fastest and most effective jobs you can do. In some homes, 20 per cent of that basketball is found here!		Slam the door on air leaks A properly fitted door closes firmly and doesn't allow air to leak in on the sides, top or bottom. For a few dollars you can buy rubber weatherstripping to skirt the door frame.		Strategic landscaping can cool your house Deciduous trees, trimmed high to allow breezes to pass underneath and circulate around the house, will contribute to cooling the house exterior. They are also effective in keeping sun from the windows and if they grow tall enough, they will help shade the roof. Trees provide natural cooling inside and out. In the winter when the trees have no leaves, the sun will help to heat your home. Think about this when you're considering the landscaping of your property.

A thorough caulking, weatherstripping, and insulating job can reduce the air leaks in your house and cut your electric heating bill by up to 25%.

And with a little bit of practice, almost anyone can master the simple techniques. Because they tend to be a series of little jobs, you can do a bit at a time. See Shopping Tips for Caulking & Weatherstripping to choose the appropriate caulking compound for each job.

If you're adding insulation to your house, remember that caulking and weatherstripping should be done first. No sense in putting insulation over leaky walls!

If you're not a do-it-yourself type, check the Yellow Pages under "Insulation Contractors".

Lock up chilly leaks with caulking

After caulking, it's time for weatherstripping

• Weatherstrip outlets and switches with precut foam gaskets
  
• Install child safety plugs on all electrical outlets
  
• If you can, remove trim around doors and windows and fill the gaps with insulation. Then, replace the trim and caulk around it.
  
• If you plan to weatherstrip your windows, note how they work so weatherstripping won't interfere with their use.

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