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The short version
Cold air coming in means warm air — and money — going out. Most homes lose 25 to 40 percent of their heating energy through air leaks, and sealing them is the cheapest fix in the house. ENERGY STAR says air sealing plus insulation can save about 15% on heating and cooling costs. Do it now, while it’s still warm enough for caulk to cure (most caulk needs 40 to 80 degrees).
Find the leaks
Caulk the gaps
Weatherstrip the doors and windows
Sweep the bottom of the door
Insulate the pipes
Find the leaks
Walk the house on a windy day with a lit incense stick or a thin piece of tissue paper. Hold it near window frames, door frames, where pipes come through the wall, and around outlets on outside walls. If the smoke wavers or the paper flutters, you found a leak. Check the attic hatch too — that’s a big one people forget.
Caulk the gaps
What to seal
Any gap around a window or door frame, where siding meets trim, and where pipes or wires come into the house. If you can fit a pencil in it, caulk it. Cut the tip small — you can always cut it bigger, you can’t cut it smaller.
GE All Purpose Silicone Caulk, Clear, 10 fl oz — about $8 a tube
100% silicone, waterproof, stands up to freezing and sun, and it’s rain-ready the same day. Note: the linked listing is a 12-pack — buy the single tube at the store if you only need one or two windows.
TIP — Caulk in the fall, not in January. Most exterior caulk won’t cure right below 40 degrees.
Weatherstrip the doors and windows
Foam tape
Peel, stick, done. This is the cheapest draft fix there is, and it takes about ten minutes a window.
Self-stick foam tape for door and window frames. Clean the surface first or it won’t hold. Replace it when it goes flat — usually every couple of years.
Sweep the bottom of the door
The gap under the door
The gap under an exterior door is the single biggest draft source in most houses. Hold a flashlight on one side at night — if you can see light under the door, cold air is coming through.
Aluminum with a flexible vinyl strip that screws to the bottom of the door. Measure your door first — most are 36 inches, but check.
Insulate the pipes
Don’t skip this one
A burst pipe costs thousands. Foam pipe insulation is a few dollars a length and takes minutes to put on — slit it open, snap it around the pipe, tape the seam. Do every hot and cold water pipe in the basement, crawl space, and garage, and put a cover on the outside spigots.
…Quick and to the point. Subscribe to this express blog for more tips.