CAULKING AND WEATHERSTRIPPING - KEEP COMFORTABLE, SAVE ENERGY TOO
Using electricity more efficiently is good for all of us. A thorough job of caulking, weatherstripping and insulating can reduce your heating and cooling bills by as much as 25% and make you much more comfortable. Source: Hydro One
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.
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!
Put these caulking, weatherstripping and insulating tips to work to help save money and the environment. If you're not a do-it-yourself type, check the Yellow Pages under "Insulation Contractors".
Is your attic properly insulated?
Remember how your mom told you to keep your hat on in the winter? The same applies to your home. The majority of houses built before 1980 are under-insulated -- heat rises through the ceiling and literally goes out the roof. So one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to cut heating and cooling costs, and make a house more comfortable, is to add more insulation in the attic. As a general rule, if you have less than 30 cm (12 inches) of attic insulation, you probably need more.
Does your attic have a vapour barrier?
A vapour barrier is a plastic sheet that should be under the insulation. Putting in a vapour barrier can be a messy job if the insulation is already in place, but the paybacks are worth it. Your home will retain heat, and the vapour barrier will reduce the amount of moisture escaping into the attic.
Can you feel a draft around your windows and doors on cold windy days?
If you can, you need to caulk to keep the draft out. Your local hardware store should sell a good quality latex caulking for this purpose. If the holes are larger than 1 cm (one-quarter inch), you may want to use a foam sealant. Try to find all the places requiring foam so you can use the whole can - insulating foam can't be stored for later use.
Is there weatherstripping around your doors? Is there a threshold?
The best type of threshold is closed-cell, vinyl clad with an aluminum stay. A well-stocked hardware store should have this type.
Are your air ducts well sealed?
You can lose up to 10% of heating and cooling capacities if your air ducts are not well sealed. Seal your air ducts with duct tape. Be sure to purchase the shiny metal duct tape, as the cloth duct tape tends to dry out quickly and become ineffective.