Don't get caught out in the cold - winterize your home

Everyone knows, especially now, that energy is very expensive. It doesn't matter whether you use wood, electric or natural gas to heat your home, it's all expensive and becoming harder to get and pay for.

If you want to reduce your heating bill, winterizing your home will reduce your energy bill from 15 to 45 percent. The time and money you invest in weather-stripping doors and caulking windows can pay off faster than almost any other home improvement you can make, even when your home is already well insulated. Weather stripping and caulk will reduce the air exchanges that take place as your home pressurizes and de-pressurizes caused by opening and closing your doors. The best time of the year to start winterizing your home is in the fall of the year.

Weather stripping can be purchased by the foot or in individual door kits complete with a seal and fasteners. Installation instructions and diagrams are provided on or in most packages. Some weather seals are surface mounted and visible, while others are concealed when the doors are closed. They are made from a variety of materials, e.g. Bronze weather stripping, Vinyl V-Seal, Sponge rubber neoprene-coated, Caulking cord, aluminum and felt stripping, self-adhesive foam tape, etc.

Caulking compounds come in a wide range of container sizes and price. Caulking materials are made to adhere to glass, wood, metal, plastic, and masonry. Resistance to weathering, cracking, shrinkage, water, and mold are also very important considerations when selecting caulking. High-quality caulking compounds with a long life expectancy are generally more expensive.

Caulking tips:

1. Use a caulking gun with an automatic release.

2. Cut the tip of the cartridge at a 32 to 45 degree angle. Only cut off about 1/2 of an inch so that the hole is between 1/8 to 1/1/4 of an inch in diameter.

3. Remove all of the old, dried sealing material and clean the area with a solvent.

4. Never skimp, make sure you use enough to fill the entire crack or seam.

5. If the caulk shrinks during the drying process, apply another layer.

Area where to caulk — Exterior of the home:

1. Joints between chimney and siding.

2. Joints between windows sill and siding.

3. Joints between window drip cap and siding.

4. Joints between window sash and siding.

5. Joints between windows and masonry.

6. Door frames.

7. Joints between masonry or concrete parts, e.g. steps, porches, etc.

8. Inside corners formed by siding.

Areas where to caulk — interior of the home:

1. Where pipes enter the home.

2. Vent exit points.

3. Around air ducts.

4. Between fireplace and connecting walls.

5. Door frames.

6. Around windows frames.

7. Along the baseboards.

8. Inside closets along the baseboards and corners.

9. Around outlet and switch plates.

I know it seems like a lot of work; however, completing these projects early this fall can save you $5 to $8 per month per leaky window or door.

When cleaning with any cleaning product, always wear eye protection and rubber gloves to protect your hands. If you would like to share a cleaning idea or concept, call Ed at NWES (255-2266), e-mail them to madan@nwees.com or send them to the Daily Bee, 310 Church Street, Sandpoint, ID 83864, Attn: What would Ed do?  For more information about Ed, and his new Handiman Services, check him out at NWEES.COM.

Copy written by Edmond E. Madan, certified forensic, fire, flood, mold inspection & remediation/restoration contractor. Ed is the president of Northwest Environmental Services, Inc.'