The simplest and best way to improve the energy efficiency of your home is to draftproof your house by finding and sealing any air leaks, especially those around windows and doors. Below is an easy checklist to get you going.
- Start by closing all your doors and windows, turning off the heating/cooling system, and turning on any exhaust fans—such as range hoods and bath vent fans—to create an artificial draft in your home.
- Light a stick of incense and pass it slowly around the edges of windows and doors
- Watch for movement of the smoke—indicating drafts—and mark the spots with pieces of painter’s tape.
- Examine the weatherstripping where drafts were found, and adjust or replace any that is worn, bent, or damaged.
- To seal gaps in the threshold at the bottom of doors, install a draft seal
- To reduce the amount of cold air coming through the glass on older single-pane windows, apply a plastic film insulation kit over the window.
- Folding attic stairs can also be a major source of heat loss during the winter. Start by applying self-adhesive foam weatherstripping between the pull down stairs and the frame, then position an attic stairway cover in the attic over the opening.
Now that your house is bundled up tight, you can enjoy the coming winter knowing you’ll be cozy, and your heating bill won’t break the bank.
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