Summary: Air gets into and out of our homes from a wide range of places. Many of these can be fixed with some simple do it yourself handiwork. Undertake any of these and you'll start to realize instant energy savings. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, American homes lose energy from the following places (in decreasing order of importance): floors, ceilings and walls (31%), doors and windows (21%), heating/air condition ducts (15%), fireplaces (14%), plumbing penetrations (13%) and all others (6%). Recognize that these numbers may vary based on home type, age, geographical region and other factors.
It's pretty simple to save on your energy bills by installing more efficient doors and windows or by replacing your insulation. These, of course are also some of the costlier ways to improve your home's energy efficiency. There are also some very easy and less expensive ways to stop air leaks in your home.
Recaulking your doors and windows can prevent some air and water leaks. Remove the old caulk first - a putty knife or window scraper work well here; a screwdriver also works for stubborn caulk, but make sure not to gouge the woodwork in the process. Clean the window or door frame using rubbing alcohol afterwards to make sure the new caulk will stick well. Now, caulk the door or window, making sure to push the bead to get caulk into all of those little gaps. Remember not to caulk your window weep holes though unless you plan to replace them very soon! The best time to caulk is in spring and fall, when temperatures range between 50 and 70.
Reapply caulk (pushing the bead to ensure it gets into gaps). Be sure NOT to caulk window weep holes (small holes at the bottom of the window that allow for any condensation to drain). It's best to apply the caulk when outdoor temperatures are between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In most locales, this is when most building materials are at the midpoint of their contraction and expansion range.
The same principle applies to skylights and any other place where there may be air leaks. For instance, where electrical lines, phone lines or air ducts enter your home are all worth investigating and if needed, recaulking. You may want to use cover plates to cover these areas after caulking. While these too will need to be sealed, they look a lot better than a large caulked area.
In your attic, crawl space and/or basement, you should plan to seal all air conditioning and heating ducts. Instead of caulk, however, duct tape can be used to seal seams of exposed ducts.
You should look for air leaks in your ductwork, especially in your basement, attic and crawlspaces. For this job you can use duct tape instead of caulk, making this a much easier and faster job. However, you can make this easier still and seal those leaks you can't reach by using an aerosol sealer. These sealers will collect wherever they pass a leak, sealing them without you having to crawl around through your home trying to duct tape them all!
After taking care of your ducts, look at the weather stripping on your doors and windows. These become damaged and permit air leaks as they age. You may be able to just slide a replacement piece of weather stripping in or you might have to actually take the door or window out and replace all of the weather stripping.
Last of all, leaks around electrical outlets and switches can be sealed. Especially on outside walls, these are common places for air leaks. Before you get started, shut off the electricity. Remove the switch plates and plug covers and feel for air leaks in the space. You can cover these leaks with foam inserts or if desired, a small piece of insulation or spray foam sealant. Once you've applied this and it is set, check for leaks again.
All of these methods of stopping air leaks are easy, effective and best of all will save you a significant amount of money starting right after you fix them. It's instantly gratifying and so easy to do that there's no excuse not to make your home more energy efficient.
It's pretty simple to save on your energy bills by installing more efficient doors and windows or by replacing your insulation. These, of course are also some of the costlier ways to improve your home's energy efficiency. There are also some very easy and less expensive ways to stop air leaks in your home.
Recaulking your doors and windows can prevent some air and water leaks. Remove the old caulk first - a putty knife or window scraper work well here; a screwdriver also works for stubborn caulk, but make sure not to gouge the woodwork in the process. Clean the window or door frame using rubbing alcohol afterwards to make sure the new caulk will stick well. Now, caulk the door or window, making sure to push the bead to get caulk into all of those little gaps. Remember not to caulk your window weep holes though unless you plan to replace them very soon! The best time to caulk is in spring and fall, when temperatures range between 50 and 70.
Reapply caulk (pushing the bead to ensure it gets into gaps). Be sure NOT to caulk window weep holes (small holes at the bottom of the window that allow for any condensation to drain). It's best to apply the caulk when outdoor temperatures are between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In most locales, this is when most building materials are at the midpoint of their contraction and expansion range.
The same principle applies to skylights and any other place where there may be air leaks. For instance, where electrical lines, phone lines or air ducts enter your home are all worth investigating and if needed, recaulking. You may want to use cover plates to cover these areas after caulking. While these too will need to be sealed, they look a lot better than a large caulked area.
In your attic, crawl space and/or basement, you should plan to seal all air conditioning and heating ducts. Instead of caulk, however, duct tape can be used to seal seams of exposed ducts.
You should look for air leaks in your ductwork, especially in your basement, attic and crawlspaces. For this job you can use duct tape instead of caulk, making this a much easier and faster job. However, you can make this easier still and seal those leaks you can't reach by using an aerosol sealer. These sealers will collect wherever they pass a leak, sealing them without you having to crawl around through your home trying to duct tape them all!
After taking care of your ducts, look at the weather stripping on your doors and windows. These become damaged and permit air leaks as they age. You may be able to just slide a replacement piece of weather stripping in or you might have to actually take the door or window out and replace all of the weather stripping.
Last of all, leaks around electrical outlets and switches can be sealed. Especially on outside walls, these are common places for air leaks. Before you get started, shut off the electricity. Remove the switch plates and plug covers and feel for air leaks in the space. You can cover these leaks with foam inserts or if desired, a small piece of insulation or spray foam sealant. Once you've applied this and it is set, check for leaks again.
All of these methods of stopping air leaks are easy, effective and best of all will save you a significant amount of money starting right after you fix them. It's instantly gratifying and so easy to do that there's no excuse not to make your home more energy efficient.
About the Author:
Author: Jerry Dyess has published articles for the Texas Electricity for the past 7 years. Get more information on Texas Electric rates.
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