Save Money with Door and Window Weatherstripping:
Lower Utility Bills all Year Long by Giving Your Home a Tighter Envelope
© 2010 by Kelly Smith all rights reserved
Dictionary.reference.com tells us that weatherstripping is “a narrow strip of material to cover the joint of a door or window to exclude the cold”. What? I thought there was no “cold, just an absence of heat. No matter; the important thing to remember is that it will save money on electricity and gas utility bills.
Although windows and entry doors are the first areas that come to mind, places like your garage door threshold benefit from a better seal too. All the home’s weatherstripping needs to be checked two times each year and replaced when deterioration is found.
You’ll find a few basic types at the home improvement stores, and the 2 most common are self-adhesive foam strips and door thresholds sporting a vinyl bulb.
A snug door sweep in decent shape is another opportunity to increase your home’s energy efficiency. Installing the recommended amount of attic insulation is the basic way to save on air conditioning and heating bills.
Once that’s done, the following steps will are recommended. Either do it yourself as a weekend project, or hire a handyman. .
Install or Replace Self-Adhesive Foam to Doors and Windows
This foam (the most common brand is FrostKing) is inexpensive, easy to apply, and effective. It’s easy to find at all hardware stores and home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowes. You’ll need these tools and material:
- A tape measure.
- A roll of foam. The package will indicate what size door or window it will treat.
- Scissors, X-Acto knife, or a utility knife.
How to Weatherstrip a Door or Window
- Measure across the header of the door frame or top of the window.
- Cut a piece of foam that length.
- Pull off the backing, exposing the sticky side and apply the weatherstripping to the window casing or door jamb. Begin at one side and work your way across to the other.
- Repeat these steps for the vertical sides.
Follow those simple steps and keep more of the money you earn. These energy improvements are easy to implement, inexpensive to do, and are effective in both the summer and the winter.
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