Written on: January 27, 2020

How To Keep Warm Air Inside This Winter

“Close the front door…do we live in a barn?”

It’s a phrase most of us have heard at one point or another in our life – usually from the frustrated person who pays the heating bill. And it’s a valid point: anything that makes your furnace or boiler work harder is going to cost you both now (with higher heating bills) and later (with more repairs).

Take air leaks, for example: the average American home leaks an amount of air equal to a nearly four square-foot hole in an exterior wall through spaces around windows and doors, and through the walls in its attic and crawl spaces.

That’s like leaving a window wide open in the dead of winter!

The good news is that you can tame those air leaks without spending a lot of money by weatherizing your home. Weatherizing is one of the most cost-effective investments you can make in-home energy efficiency – especially when it’s done in combination with installing high-efficiency heating equipment.

But how – and where – do you weatherize? Let’s take a look.

Weatherization checklist

Use this list as a reference of the many places to check for air leaks around your home. For more weatherization and air sealing tips and facts, check out the U.S. Department of Energy’s website.

Exterior windows and doors

• Check for and repair/replace loose panes and broken glass
• Caulk around windows and doors frames
• Weatherstrip and install door sweeps on exterior doors
• Seal windows with weather stripping or rope caulk

Attic

• Install foam weather stripping around attic door edges
• If you have a chimney, seal around it with a high temp sealant and metal flashing
• Caulk around plumbing vents that pass through that attic floor and ceiling
• Seal gaps between the attic and living spaces with expandable foam or insulation

Basement

• Seal gaps between the attic and living spaces with expandable foam or insulation
• Seal and insulate accessible ductwork
• Caulk around basement windows and external-facing doors
• Seal holes and gaps around foundation walls using caulk or foam sealant

Living spaces

• Install foam gaskets behind electrical plate covers on exterior walls
• Seal cracks and gaps where floors meet exterior walls
• If you have a wood-burning fireplace, close the damper when it’s not in use.

Outdoors

• Use caulk and expandable foam to seal gaps around penetrations through the home’s exterior shell, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical and water lines
• Caulk around all door and window frames
• Make sure your dryer vent cover works; if not, replace it.
• Seal gaps where building materials meet, such as between brick and siding

Looking for more ways to save energy in your Connecticut or Westchester County home? Contact the heating pros at Westmore for expert advice on high-efficiency heating system installations and heating service plans for your furnace or boiler.