6 Ways To Seal Windows And Air Leaks Around Your Home

You pay to heat your home during winter, but air leaks can let this warmed air leak outside and allow cold air to make its way inside your home. This raises your power bill and makes your home more uncomfortable.

For a relatively small investment of time and money, you can tackle this home improvement project, seal these air leaks, and reap benefits in the winter and summer. The following are six ways to seal windows and air leaks around your home:

1. Weatherstrip around the attic door
   If your pull-down attic stairs or attic hatch have a gap around them, cold air from your attic can make its way into your home, and warm, heated air can escape to the attic. Seal the gap by caulking between the frame and the opening or install weather stripping around the opening.
2. Tighten up windows and doors
   Drafts from windows and doors can make your living areas uncomfortable. Caulking around windows and adding new weather stripping can help make them tighter. This also works on doors. If there's a gap between the bottom of the door and the door sweep, you can install a new sweep.
3. Seal your fireplace flue when it's not in use
   Fireplace flues can warp or break over time and let warm air escape. Buy a plastic inflatable chimney balloon and place it beneath the flue when you're not using your fireplace. It can be reused countless times. Even if you forget it's there, it will simply deflate quickly when the heat from the fire reaches it.
4. Fix leaks in the attic
   Since warm air rises, the attic is a prime source for air leaks. Before climbing up into the attic to fix any leaks, move all your needed home improvement materials up with you so you don't have to keep making trips up and down the stairs. Bring a droplight to see well, plus pieces of plywood to help support you as you work. Wearing gloves and a mask, pull back the insulation and look for places where leaks are likely to occur. These usually include spots where electrical and plumbing lines, as well as chimneys, enter and pass through the attic. When you find these areas, use caulk or spray foam to fill the gaps.
5. Tackle the basement and crawl space
   Sealing air leaks in the basement and crawl space can help keep your floors from feeling cold. In the basement, use caulk or spray foam to seal openings in the walls, ceiling, or floor. Also, seal the area where cement walls meet the wood frame at each end of the house. Check for openings around ducts, wiring, and utility lines that pass to the outside of your house and seal these, too.
6. Seal switches and outlets
   Cold air can make its way inside your home this winter through switches or outlets. These locations can also allow warm, moist air to get inside your walls, causing wood rot or damaging your exterior paint. Fix the leaks quickly and inexpensively by unscrewing the cover plate, putting a foam gasket in place, and screwing the plate back on.

Locating and fixing air leaks is a relatively easy home improvement task and can lower your energy bills month after month while making your home more comfortable. If you need help identifying places that need attention, many utility companies offer free energy audits to their customers to help locate any problem spots.

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