Seal Air Leaks Around Windows and Doors

Here are two tips to help homeowners save money and heat in the months ahead.  Seal air leaks around windows and doors to prevent wasting home heating and cooling energy that costs you money.  The first step is to check for leaks – here is how.  With windows and doors closed, hold a lit stick of incense near window and door-frames where you think drafts are leading in.  Watch for smoke movement. Note what sources need caulk, sealant, and weather-stripping.

Seal air leaks around windows

If you have old windows, caulking and adding new weather-stripping goes a long way toward tightening them up.

  • • Bronze weather-stripping ($12 for 17 feet) lasts for decades but is time-consuming to install.
  • • Self-stick plastic types are easy to put on but don’t last very long.
  • • Adhesive-backed EPDM rubber ($8 for 10 feet) is a good compromise, rated to last at least 10 years.

Nifty gadgets called pulley seals ($9 a pair) block air from streaming though the holes where cords disappear into the frames.

Seal air leaks around doors

If you found air leaks around the doors, replace old door weather-stripping with new.

  • • Foam-type tape has an adhesive backing; it’s inexpensive and easy to install. If it comes loose, reinforce it with staples.
  • • Felt is either adhesive-backed or comes with flexible metal reinforcement. it must be tacked or glued into place. It’s cheap and easy to install, but it has low durability.
  • • Tubular rubber, vinyl, and silicone weather-stripping is relatively expensive and tricky to install, but it provides an excellent seal. Some types come with a flange designed to fit into pre-cut grooves in the jambs of newer doors; check your existing weather-stripping and replace with a similar style.

Check exterior trim for any gaps between the trim and your door-frames, and the trim and your siding. Caulk gaps with an exterior latex caulk ($5 for a 10-ounce tube).

Seal door bottoms

If a draft comes in at the bottom, check the condition of the threshold gasket. Replace worn gaskets. If you can see daylight under the door, you may need to install a new threshold with a taller gasket ($25 for a 36-inch door). Or, install a weather-resistant door sweep designed for exterior doors ($9).  Door sweeps attach directly to the door and are easy to install.

Resource:  Jeanne Huber, author of 10 books about home improvement and writes a weekly column about home care for the Washington Post.