Caulking And Weatherstripping Your Home Secures Savings

Caulking And Weatherstripping Your Home Secures Savings

Caulking and weatherstripping your home are easy, inexpensive ways to reduce energy use and lower your utility bills.Money is lost as conditioned air leaks around windows and doors, wasting energy and increasing utility costs. By caulking and weatherstripping those areas, conditioned air remains in your house where it belongs, and cost and energy use is reduced.If you plan to seal your house with caulking and weatherstripping, first access your home's ventilation needs. Some homes have poor indoor air quality, such as mold, dust or other contaminants. These pollutants can become locked in the house if it’s sealed without proper ventilation. A heating and air conditioning professional can assess the ventilation needs of your home, if you're unsure and would like professional advice.

• Weatherstripping: Measure how much weatherstripping you’ll need before cutting by measuring the perimeter of areas to be weatherstripped, and then add five to ten percent. Make sure the area is clean and dry prior to applying. Install around the frame of doors. Under the door apply either reinforced foam weatherstripping, or a door sweep or threshold. For windows, apply along the top and bottom of sash. The weatherstripping should be snug and the window or door should compress when closed.

• Caulking: Caulking is a versatile compound for sealing a variety of air leaks. It also prevents water damage when applied around water pipes, bathtubs, sinks, faucets and more.

Before you begin caulking, make sure the surface is clean and dry and you’ve removed old caulking and paint.Use caulking to seal around windows and doors, baseboards and quarter round moldings. Find areas of air leakage and seal as needed, for instance: around phone or TV wires or cables where air enters the house, entrances for electricity and gas, electrical outlets and switches, are just a few.Money is wasted if your house leaks air, but caulking and weatherstripping provide a simple, money- saving technique to make your house more efficient and reduce costs.For more expert advice about caulking and weatherstripping,  and other issues related to home comfort, please feel free to contact Air Assurance. We’ve been proudly serving the Broken Arrow/Tulsa area since 1985.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Attic-Sealing Strategies Give Tulsa Area Residents A Solid Plan For Efficiency

Energy costs on the rise? Perhaps these attic sealing strategies can help put you on the road to energy efficiency.Roof LeaksA leaky roof can lead to a variety of problems, including:

• Water damage.

• Wood rot.

• Mold growth.

• Soaked, ineffective insulation.

With this in mind, perhaps the first step in your attic sealing strategy should be to seal off roof leaks with the appropriate flashing material.Air LeaksAir and moisture can also enter the attic from inside of the home, presenting some of the same moisture issues as roof leaks, while wasting your conditioned air and increasing your annual energy costs. In some homes, this is further complicated by exhaust fans, such as those found in kitchens and bathrooms, being vented directly into the attic. These fans should always exhaust moisture and air directly outside. Of course, most common air leaks occur around wiring, plumbing and ductwork, and are easily addressed using some form of weatherstripping or caulk.VentilationOne of the most important aspects of proper attic sealing is ventilation. While that statement may seem contrary, a well-ventilated attic ensures that moisture and contaminants that do enter the attic have a means of escaping your home. If your attic isn’t properly ventilated, consider adding continuous ventilation.InsulationWith your attic tightly sealed and proper ventilation in place, you can now finish off your attic sealing strategy by boosting your insulation. If you already have three to four inches of existing insulation, consider adding insulation with an R-value of 25-38. If you have no attic insulation at all, you may need R30-R60. For a more accurate assessment, consult a professional.A properly sealed attic will reduce moisture issues, improve household comfort and significantly increase your annual energy savings. For more information on improving the energy efficiency of your household, speak to one of our trained technicians. We're always standing by to serve your heating and cooling needs. For an expert consultation, contact Air Assurancetoday.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!