Now is the time to start inspecting your home for drafty areas. Winter is looming and a well-weatherized house can cushion you and your family against freezing temperatures, while also reducing your utility costs and improving your environmental impact.

Why it’s Important
A home with drafty windows and doors not only threatens your general comfort during winter months but also causes your heating system to work much harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. The Department of Energy estimates that as much as one-third of the average home’s heat loss occurs through windows and doors. 

While many believe that the only way to stop air from escaping is to replace the sources causing trouble, it is actually a common misconception that new windows will lower your heating costs. Instead, there are plenty of cost-effective steps you can take. 

Weatherstripping
Start by inspecting for drafts around your window frames and exterior doors. If you notice deteriorated or damaged weatherstripping; this is a good place to start!

Windows with heavy usage can experience matting or crumbling over time, causing drafts to get in. When choosing a replacement, try to match your style and dimensions as closely as possible. Options like bubble seals, leaf seals, and pile weather seal are inexpensive, energy-efficient replacements that will extend the life of your windows and keep you toasty.

How to do the Repair:

Thresholds and Sweeps
Threshold and door sweeps are intended to seal underneath your door to keep out drafts and dirt, but like anything else, deteriorate after years of daily use. So, be sure to check your prime door thresholds and weatherstripping for wear and tear as well. When left unattended, prime doors can become one of the draftiest areas in a home.

Glazing
Because of sun and weather exposure, the snap-in glazing around your windows can start to become inefficient at bridging the space between your glass pane and sash. So, a quick inspection of the glazing for signs of dry-rot or crumbling can help in the weatherization process. 

How to do the Repair:

To reduce your carbon footprint, and improve your home’s efficiency, remember to check your doors and windows when you’re weatherizing your home.