Welcome Visitors, Not Leaks
Jan 28, 2015A couple of weeks ago, we posted about ice on the inside of your windows, what causes it and how to get rid of it. But just because you’re not seeing ice on the inside of your windows, doesn’t mean you’re home is as airtight as it could be to keep that winter chill where it belongs—outside!
Did you know?
An 1/8″-crack around your front and back door can allow as much air into the house as having a small window open halfway.
Whoa! That’s a lot of wasted heat—and money—as nighttime temperatures dip down into the teens and twenties. Now, of course, our best recommendation would be a new door installation. Vast improvements have been made in residential doors in both the material they’re made of and their insular properties, adding style and efficiency to your home.
But what if a new door is just not practical at the moment? Does that mean you should continue throwing money out the…um…door until you can afford a replacement? Of course not!
Adding a door sweep to the bottom of your door is a great place to start. You can also purchase inexpensive weather stripping for the top and sides that will help keep drafts out—and heat in!
What else can you do?
- Add insulated strips between sashes and temporary calking to fill larger gaps for the winter. And don’t forget to lock your windows—that extra tightening goes a long way toward preventing leaks.
- If you’ve had plumbing or electrical work done that required drilling through exterior walls, be sure to fill any gaps around the holes that could be allowing air infiltration.
- 2-5% of air infiltration into your house comes from electrical outlets. Adding an insulating pad behind outlet covers is a fast, easy way to prevent air leaks.
For more helpful tips, or to get an estimate for your new door or replacement window installation, contact us today. We’re here and ready to help!
