homes whether new or old often have cracks and openings around doors and
windows
these gaps are a major source of heat loss
and can account for up to one-third have your home's overall heating cost
that's why they should apply caulk and weatherstripping all-rounder doors and
windows
after all heating and cooling costs account for nearly half
your home's utility expenses and poor ceiling
is a contributing factor to those costs other factors include insulation
the number of stories in a house the number I air conditioning units
Windows and more when you consider the even a tiny one
a permanent gap around a typical entry door is the equivalent
drilling a five and a half inch diameter hole through an outside wall
closing that gap is well worth the effort when checking for leaks
some are pretty easy to detect like the crack of light beneath the front door on
a sunny day
or the rush of cool air coming from a window on a blustery day
but there may be far less obviously said may take some creativity
to discover here's an easy way to detect leaks around doors and windows in your
home
on a windy day turn off your AC unit
and close all the doors and windows turn on
any bath fans and stove ends in your home then
lie to stick up incense and pass it along the edges are your doors and
windows
wherever the smokers suck outer blown into the room
there's a leak
caulking the seal gaps around doors and windows is an
easy energy-saving DIY project any homeowner can take on
to lower their utility bill there are several basic types of caulking
compounds available
including latex silicone polyurethane
and hybrid for me was making it possible to tackle a variety of sealing jobs
latex caulk is a cost-efficient option
that is easy to work with and can be painted if needed
latex is versatile and can be used on a variety of surfaces including doors and
windows
in cleans up nicely with soap and water silicone caulk offers good flexibility
durability and adhesion providing an excellent see all against the outside
elements
silicone caulk is perfect for use around doors and windows in areas exposed to
moisture
or direct sunlight silicone products cannot be painted
as they are engineered to not have anything stick to the surface
polyurethane caulk provides outstanding adhesion
and is also very durable but can be a little more difficult to work with
most polyurethane products are engineered for exterior use
and can also be applied to a damp or wet surface if needed
hybrid products offer you the best a beach technology without the drawbacks
these products can be applied to a damp surface painted in a relatively short
period of time
in applied to any surface hybrid products provide a durable
long-lasting seal regardless of where they're used
most caulking products com in a 10-ounce cartridge
are applied with the caulking gun you can also find latex and silicone
products
in smaller squeeze tube sizes if you don't want to use a caulking gun
or if a smaller amount of product is needed for your job
before applying a new layer of caulk you'll need to remove any old caulking
with the utility knife or scraper
carefully clean away any dirt and debris from the area
and allow the surface to dry when you're ready to start caulking
first load the car gone by pulling back the plunger and placing the tube of
caulk
into the chamber bottom in first squeeze the trigger until it makes contact with
the tube
cut the tip to your desired bead size
at an angle using the pen on the caulk gun
to puncture the seal if needed apply pressure by squeezing the gun to the
product makes its way
to the end of the nozzle holding the gun at a 45 degree angle to ensure the gap
is covered
squeeze the trigger as you push the gun away from your body
to ensure that you're using enough caulk to feel your gap
when finished release the trigger at the end of the same
pushing the tip the novel into the corner to cut off the strip of caulk
intent was slightly as you lift the nozzle make sure to cap the top of the
nozzle
as most caulks can be stored and reused at a future time
there are a variety of methods that can be used to smooth the caulk ranged from
just run your finger along the bead
to using a professional caulk tool for optimal results
the type of caulk you use may impact the method used to smooth the product out
caulking doors and windows is a really quick and simple process
leaving your home warmer more comfortable and more energy efficient
when you finish
weatherstripping doors and windows is another cost effective way to reduce
energy waste weatherstripping products come in many different forms
and can be made up other combination of materials such as wood
rubber vinyl metal and foam
to determine the type of weather stripping that will be the most
effective in the area you're trying to seal
you want to consider factors like the amount of friction
it will have to withstand exposure to weather and any cosmetic concerns
you may have with it being seen even the most
in experience dr. wire can apply weatherstripping adhesive backed foam
tape is sold in rolls in Burien with
in thicknesses with the sticky back just cut it to the desired link
and apply it to the top in bottom of the window sashes
or inside door frames the strip
also known as tension seal is a durable plastic or metal strip
folded into a v-shape that springs open the bridge gaps
you can cut it to link then either peel and stick it
or nail it along the sides have double home or sliding windows
felt is another great choice for weather stripping around a door or window sash
or in a door jamb filters easily nailed or stapled in place
and it compresses to allow smooth movement of doors and windows
for the base up doors and windows
the top or bottom have a window sash or between a door and it's jam
tubular rubber is an affective air barrier made up
venero sponge rubber or vinyl tubing sometimes attached to a wood or metal
mounting strip
tubular rubber comes peel-and-stick or can be fastened with screws through slot
holes
and lastly any well sealed or requires door sweeps
door sweeps are flat pieces or you shaped pieces of plastic
aluminum or stainless steel fitted with the stripper nylon
plastic or vinyl or a sponge brush
to fill the space between the door and the threshold cut it to your doors with
and install it along the bottom up the interior side of the door with screws
door sweeps keep cool air and heat in insects and other
unwelcome visitors out altogether you can save up to two hundred dollars a
year in heating and cooling costs
or about 10 percent of your energy bill by sealing and insulating your home
with energy star-rated products