Hi my friends! Here we are again! I think now would be a good time to start thinking about that icy weather. If you haven’t yet, why don’t we do some weatherproofing on your home??
The most important reason for you to weatherize is because of the money it will save you. Heating & cooling costs can account for over half of your total energy bill even with average insulation. Most insulation and weatherstripping products are inexpensive, but investing in them now will create an energy savings which you will realize in a short period of time.
There are soooo many ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home, but we will focus today on only a few easier items. Weatherproofing projects typically involve doors and windows because these are the primary heat-loss areas in most homes. Installing storm windows or doors is one effective way to eliminate heat-loss. They are a little more expensive, but worth it.
As a homeowner project today, caulking and weatherstripping will be the primary tools used. These can be picked up for a minimal cost at your favorite hardware store.
Tools:
Small finish hammer
Screwdrivers
Putty knife
Razor knife
Caulking gun
Step ladder or step stool
Materials:
Silicone Caulk
Expandable insulating foam
Wood filler
Weatherstripping
Electrical outlet covers and switch plate covers
Safety Tips:
Not too much danger in this project.
Always remember to protect your eyes
Be sure your ladders are on level ground
Whatever you do, keep your fingers and thumbs away from hammers and staplers (ouch)
Keep Fluffy or Spot away from the caulk or foam, interesting but not too good for the stomach (or the whiskers!)
Step 1: Take your caulking gun for a walk around the exterior of your home. Be prepared to run a bead of caulk around dryer vents, exhaust vents or any other fittings that are mounted to the side of your house. Weather causes the original caulking to dry up and pull away from the building. This leaves voids where the cold or heat can find its way into or out of the home. If there is a buildup of old caulk, using a putty knife and /or razor knife, remove what you can before you add fresh caulking.
Step 2: Walk around the interior of your home. You can use your caulking gun or insulating foam inside the house. Baseboards are a prime target for this step. Settling occurs in your home as it ages and can create voids between the base and the floor. This creates an area where heat loss and drafts occur. Filling in the voids can also keep insects from entering your home! Remove the base shoe and caulk or spray expandable foam. Use your product evenly and minimally, running a bead along the entire length of the boards. If using foam, be prepared for the expansion. Practice a little outside until you are comfortable with the use of this product. It can get a little messy and you may feel like the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man if you use too much!!!!
Step 3: While you are inside, take a look at your electrical outlets and switch plates. Are you missing any? Besides looking unsightly, this is a prime area of heat loss or drafts!!!
Installing plates or replacing cracked ones will cut down on your energy loss. Sometimes the drywall may have been over cut and there is a void around the plate. If this is the case, replace it with an oversize plate. They are slightly more expensive, but worth it.
If your walls are slightly bowed and that plate doesn’t fit flush to the wall, you may caulk around the plate. Just be neat and tidy and don’t use too much caulk. Remember though, if you need to take that plate off later, first you will have to cut around it to remove the caulk from the wall.
Those are some very simple and fast options to weatherize your home. Now we will move to a little larger project. What are the options for your doors?
Entry Doors
Weatherstrip:
In order to save time and money, before you start be sure your door is not misaligned. If so, even it out by re-setting and shimming hinges to even out gaps. Adjust latches and strike plates to keep doors snug in their frames.
Step 1: At the point where the door contacts the stop when closed, install a metal tension strip. Pry out the edge of the tension strip with a putty knife. This will create a good seal. Use the putty knife to lever out the half of the strip that contacts the door. There are always detailed instructions from the manufacturer for easier installation.
Step 2: From the outside of the door, add reinforced felt seal stripping to the edge of the door stop, using a finish hammer.
Threshold:
If you have a gap between the threshold and the door there are two options available.
Option1: If you have an old sweep already on the door, remove it. Attach a new bristle sweep to the bottom of the door. The new sweep can be adjusted up or down to fill in that void. It should sit on the threshold without hanging up when opening or closing. All you need is a screwdriver for this project.
Option 2: You can replace the entire door bottom. Use one with an integral sweep on the inside and a drip edge on the outside. This will route moisture away from the door and won’t allow water to sit against the wood. You may need to adjust your threshold height, or plane the bottom of the door slightly to make up for the added sweep. Be sure to seal the bottom of the door if you plane it. This will prevent warping or severe expansion & contraction.
Option 3: If your door panels or around the light panels show cracking, repairing them will help. Use a wood filler and a putty knife to fill in the cracks. When dry, sand the filled areas and paint. This will seal those bad areas and also beautify that entry door!!
These few ideas will get you well on your way to a more energy efficient home. You may notice a substantial drop in your heating and cooling bills once these have been completed. Don’t you feel snugly already??
For other weatherizing ideas don’t be shy about calling us at J’s. We would love to talk with you. Look for more ideas next issue when you are Toolin’ Around with “J”.
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