MamasHealth.com Home Energy Saving Tips Air conditioner tips Car maintenance Cold water loads Dishwasher tips Fireplace tips Get a furnace tune-up Insulate your home Maintain duct system Microwave it Plug up the holes Refrigerator tips Seal air leaks Use a compact bulb Use a ceiling fan Use a space heater Use your shades Water heater tips Windows: winter-proof Links Email Mama Tips to save the earth Earth friendly products Sign up for the MamasHealth Newsletter	Sealing Air Leaks: An easy way to save energy and money Warm air leaking into your home during the summer and out of your home during the winter can waste a lot of your energy dollars. One of the quickest dollar-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal, and weatherstrip all seams, cracks, and openings to the outside. You can save up to 10% on your heating and cooling bill by reducing the air leaks in your home. How air escapes from a typical home: 31% floors, ceiling, walls 15% ducts 14% fireplace 13% plumbing penetrations 11% doors 10% windows 4% fans and vents 2% electric outlet Tips for Sealing Air Leaks Test your home for air tightness. On a windy day, hold a lit incense stick next to your windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches, and other locations where there is a possible air path to the outside. If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you have located an air leak that may need caulking, sealing, or weatherstripping. Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows that leak air. Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ducting, or electrical wiring penetrates through exterior walls, floors, ceilings, and soffits over cabinets. Install rubber gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on exterior walls. Look for dirty spots in your insulation, which often indicate holes where air leaks into and out of your house. You can seal the holes by stapling sheets of plastic over the holes and caulking the edges of the plastic. Install storm windows over single-pane windows or replace them with doublepane windows. When the fireplace is not in use, keep the flue damper tightly closed. A chimney is designed specifically for smoke to escape, so until you close it, warm air escapes 24 hours a day! For new construction, reduce exterior wall leaks by either installing house wrap, taping the joints of exterior sheathing, or comprehensively caulking and sealing the exterior walls.
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