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Weatherproofing
Weatherproofing your house is always a good idea. Primarily, it saves money. Within a few years, most weatherproofing projects will pay for themselves by reducing the cost of heating and cooling your home.
A well-insulated house is easy on the environment. By reducing energy use, you help reduce pollution and conserve natural resources. In an average home in a cold climate, reducing energy usage by just 15 percent saves the equivalent of 500 pounds of coal. An energy-efficient house is also more comfortable for you and your family.
Seal your television cable jacks, telephone lines, spigots and other entry points that allow unwanted cold air to enter your home. Use an expanding foam insulation, but be careful - a little goes a long way!
Most weatherproofing projects involve the two primary heat-loss areas in your home: windows and doors. Caulk and weatherstripping are the principal tools you use, although there are a number of other items you may find to minimize your energy loss. Such items include storm windows and storm doors as well as plastic window well covers.
USING CAULK
- Caulking should be applied to any gap where air, moisture or insects may penetrate the structure, including the following common locations:
- Joints between foundation and siding
- Joints between roof overhang and house
- Joints between window/door and siding
- At any penetrations into the house (i.e., telephone wires, TV cable, electrical conduit and gas and water pipes)
- Dryer, bathroom and kitchen vents
- Joints between the siding and chimney
- As a rule, surfaces must be clean and dry in order for caulking to stick. Loose material should be brushed away, and dirt, grease or oil should be removed with a detergent solution. Do not apply in cold weather, except as recommended by the manufacturer.
TYPES OF WEATHERSTRIPPING
The greatest source of air leakage in most homes occurs around doors, windows and access hatches such as the ceiling opening from the living area into an unheated attic (see image). Weatherstripping can be a delicate job because those openings need to be fitted loosely enough that the door or window operates freely, yet tightly enough that air leakage is stopped. The type of weatherstripping you'll use depends on the location and the type of opening.
Three types of weatherstripping are common:
- Compression - Compression weatherstripping (see image below) is used to seal swinging doors and window sashes. It consists of a molded strip (it may be wood, aluminum or rigid vinyl) with a flexible vinyl bulb along one side. As a rule, compression weatherstripping is the most durable type available.
- V-Type Strips - V-shaped weatherstripping (see first two images below) is fitted against the side of the door or window jamb so it presses against the edge of the door or sash and forms a seal. V-stripping may be vinyl or bronze.
- Foam - Foam weatherstripping (see third image below) is used to seal either swinging or sliding doors or windows. It comes in various sizes, with an adhesive backing on one side. It is fastened to the edge of a door or window stop or to the bottom of a sliding window sash.
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