Flues and Vents
Fireplace flues and kitchen and dryer vents are often poorly sealed where
they pass through walls and ceilings. The air leaks can be fixed with a
combination of heat-resistant caulking and metal collar plates - available
at hardware stores. Please don't use combustible materials.
If you're not sure how to do this, call a licensed contractor.
Holes Around Plumbing
Holes around pipes through walls, ceilings and floors are often larger than required, allowing
untreated air infiltration. Check all of the pipes running to your bathroom, kitchen and
laundry area for gaps and fill any gaps around the pipes with insulation and seal with caulking
or a wall patch.
Air Infiltration Through Walls
An air barrier house wrap should be used during construction, remodeling or re-siding to prevent
air infiltration through your walls.
Poorly Fitted Heat Registers
Gaps between the edge of the register and the wall or floor can often be sealed easily with caulking.
Be sure to use heat-resistant caulking.
Light Switches and Outlets
The space behind light switches and outlets can be easily sealed with foam gaskets specifically
designed for this purpose. The gaskets are available at any hardware store and prevent air from
coming in through the wall space. Don't forget to seal internal wall switches and outlets, as well.
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Cracks Around Doors
As your home settles, gaps can open along the door frame and the threshold - letting in lot's of air.
Installing and/or replacing the weather-stripping around the door and threshold can solve this problem.
For a large gap at the bottom of the door, replace the old threshold with a door shoe gasket -
available at most hardware stores.
Heat Loss Around Windows
Apply glazing compound to wooden windows where the window glass meets the frame, and caulk where
the window frame meets the house. For leaks around aluminum windows can be sealed using
weather-stripping.
Replacement Windows
If you're planning on replacing your windows, install double-paned windows with low-emissivity
coating and inert gas between the panes to reduce your energy bills.
Fireplaces
Keep the damper closed when your fireplace is not in use. Also, adding a glass door to your
fireplace will prevent air-leakage into your home.
Ducts
Insulate your heating (and cooling) ducts to reduce heat loss as the air is delivered through
your home. Leaking ducts allow air-leakage into unoccupied spaces (eg: attics, crawlspaces, etc.)
of your home. Sealing duct joints with mastic sealent and insulating your duct work to R-6 will
reduce your energy bills and keep you more comfortable.
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Floors
A considerable amount of energy can be saved by insulating floors to R-19.
Walls
In the winter, a home with insulated walls feels warmer and more comfortable than a home with
un-insulated walls - even if the thermostats are set to the same temperature. Insulated walls
will also keep you cooler in the summer by reducing the infiltration of warmer air from the outside.
Walls should be insulated to R-11 or higher.
Attic
Insulating your ceiling is an easy and inexpensive way to cut heating and cooling bills by as much
as 20% to 30%. Attics should be insulated to R-30.
System Maintenance
Clean or replace furnace and air-conditioner filters once a month and have your system serviced
annually to maintain safe and efficient operating conditions.
Thermostat
A programmable thermostat will help you control your heating and air-conditioning more effectively.
These units, available in hardware stores, are easy to install and easy to program to automatically
turn your system down or off while you're away or asleep and to turn it on or up at any time you set.
Water Heater
A water heater tank wrap and insulation for the first six feet of hot and cold water pipes can reduce
your water heater's operating cost up to 15%. Check the Operating Manual for your water heater or
check with the manufacturer -- many newer tanks should not be wrapped.
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