Air leaks are among the greatest sources of energy loss in a home. One of the quickest money-and energy-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal, and weatherstrip all seams, cracks, and openings to the outside.
To identify air leaks, check around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, lighting and plumbing fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets. Look for gaps, improperly applied caulk and weatherstripping, and doors and windows that don’t close tightly. After you identify all air leaks, do the following:
- Weatherstrip doors and windows.
- Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ducting, or electrical wiring comes through walls, floors, ceilings, and soffits over cabinets.
- Install foam gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on walls.
- Use foam sealant on larger gaps around window trim, baseboards, and other places where air may leak out.
- Check the fireplace dampers to make certain they close properly.
- Consider an inflatable chimney balloon to seal your fireplace flue when not in use.
- Seal air leaks around fireplace chimneys, furnaces, and gas-fired water heater vents with fire-resistant materials such as sheet metal or sheetrock and furnace cement caulk.
- Install an insulated box to seal leaky attic stairs.
Learn more at https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/air-sealing-your-home.
