Block Your Home’s Drafts
No matter what season it is, a drafty house
can be uncomfortable—and expensive. Air leaks
can keep your heating and cooling system from
doing its best work. That waste of energy could
boost your energy bills by
as much as 10%.
You can do away with
drafts without a major
renovation. It’s a matter
of finding the source of
air leaks and blocking
them. Common culprits
include door and window
frames, ducts, dryer
vents, crawl spaces, attic
hatches and foundations.
Once you’ve found the
source of the problem,
you can implement a
solution.
Leaks or holes in
attic, basement or
crawlspace: Try caulk,
weather stripping or
spray foam. For bigger
leaks, insulation may make the most significant
difference, but it’s also more expensive.
Dryer vents: Buy a clothes-dryer vent seal,
which keeps outside air out by opening only
when the dryer is in use.
Ducts: If you have a forced-air heating and
cooling system, use duct sealant to block leaks
in exposed ducts. Also, try insulating ducts in
66 West Virginia Farm Bureau News
West Virginia Farm Bureau News
areas that get hot in summer or cold in winter,
such as attics or garages.
Windows: There are many types of windows,
and just as many
solutions. Caulking where
the glass meets the
frame is one problemsolver. Using strips of
self-adhesive rubber
weather sealing on the
inside of the window
can be easier and less
messy than traditional
caulk. For the winter,
you can buy a window
insulation kit to create
a “shrink-wrap” seal.
For year-round energy
saving, you may also
use insulated curtains
or cellular shades. They
cost more than standard
window coverings, but
they prevent cold air from
entering your home.
Doo