Eliminate
drafts
Reducing air leaks or drafts can reduce your energy usage by 5 to 30 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy and make your home much more comfortable.
- Look inside for gaps along the baseboard or edge of flooring and where the walls and ceiling meet.
- Look outdoors at exterior corners, where siding and chimneys meet and areas where the foundation and exterior brick or siding meet.
- Rattle windows and doors: Any movement means possible air leaks. If you can see daylight around a window frame or door, there is a leak that can often be fixed by caulking or weather stripping. Check storm windows for a tight fit. If new, high-performance doors and windows are too expensive, low-cost plastic sheets can be installed over windows to block air.
- Plug or caulk air leaks from or around electrical outlets, switch plates, attic hatches and window-mounted air conditioners.
- If you're having trouble locating air leaks, you can try this simple building pressurization test:
- Close all exterior doors, windows and fireplace flues
- Turn off all combustion appliances, including gas-burning furnaces and water heaters.
- Turn on exhaust fans in the kitchen and bath.
- Dampen your hand to feel any cool drafts, or burn an incense stick to look for wavers of smoke.
If you haven't already,
download our summer maintenance checklist for some other simple, money- and
sanity-saving steps you can take to improve your home this summer.
© 2012 Lennox Industries Inc.
