Make your home feel warmer without turning up the heat this winter! The best time to weatherize your home is late summer/early fall when your house is more accessible and before cold winter temperatures set in. Save more, worry less and stay comfortable by taking these preventative measures to protect your home from the cold winter months.
Weatherproofing Options For Doors:
Thresholds
The primary purpose of a door threshold is to provide an airtight seal between your floor and the bottom of the door, as a protection against the cold in the winter. Door thresholds receive a lot of foot traffic and a lot of wear and tear, keep in mind that in order for it to shield your home from drafts it must be in good condition.
Doorjambs
Exterior jambs are intended for use in exterior applications where the doorframe will come into contact with the elements. It is important to know what type of notch you have on your doorjamb so that you can measure and cut your door threshold to get the perfect fit. Doorjambs come in 3 notch types.
Weatherstrip
Weatherstripping is designed to eliminate the flow or draft from the interior of your home to the exterior. Take a piece of the old weather stripping with you to your local Home Centre so you can easily match the size. To determine the type of weather stripping that will be the most effective in the area you are trying to seal, you’ll want to consider factors like the amount of friction it will have to withstand, exposure to weather and any cosmetic concerns you may have with it being seen.
Door sweeps
Sealing the gap between an entry door and floor threshold by installing a door sweep is a great way to save energy. Door sweeps are manufactured to fit standard door sizes and should fit your door right out of the packaging. If not, just measure the door and cut the sweep to fit using a hacksaw.
Weatherproofing Options For Windows:
Window insulation film
This plastic film can be applied to glass windows to reduce heat transfer. The window insulation film can be applied over the inside of the window with self-adhesive tape, then with the use of a warm hair blower the plastic is heated and shrunk to make it tight and nearly invisible on your window.
Foam tape
Delivers a resilient, long-lasting foam rubber seal for use on gaps around windows and doors to seal out drafts. With foam tape you are able to seal tightly and avoid difficulties with opening and closing windows and doors.
For Gaps, Openings and Cracks:
Caulking
Caulking is used to seal cracks smaller than ¼ inch in your home’s siding and trim. Before caulking air leaks in an existing home, you will need to detect the leaks and assess your ventilation needs to ensure adequate indoor air quality.
Expanding foam insulation
To fill larger cracks and gaps, foam insulation expands to the shape of the crack forming a permanent, airtight and water-resistant bond to most building materials.
Keep the cold out, the heat in and your energy bill down with help from your Local Co-op Home Centre!
