Weatherstripping can help reduce energy costs and improve the performance of your heating and air conditioning systems. Weatherstripping involves applying material to movable sources of air leaks, such as doors and windows. Best of all, you can do it yourself! Follow these simple guidelines for weatherizing your home.

Detect air leaks

You may have noticed a draft coming from a particular window or door in your home, but if you want to be sure, here’s a nifty tip: Place a small piece of paper in the door or window and shut it, then see if you can pull it back out. If it slides out without tearing, your door or window is too loose in its frame and could benefit from weatherstripping.

Choose the best stripping

The toughest part of the job is often choosing the right stripping for the intended location. Weatherstripping comes in many forms. Felt and foam are inexpensive and easy to apply, but can be unsightly or inefficient. Vinyl is more expensive, but it holds up well against condensation and other forms of moisture. Metal lasts a long time and can even be an attractive addition. To choose the right kind, consider the uses, and if you’re not sure, ask someone at your hardware store for help or visit the Department of Energy for a useful table of options.

Measure your space

Consider the depth, width and length of the space you want to fix. For length, measure the perimeters of all windows and doors you’re stripping and add them together, then add 5 percent more to accommodate waste.

Application steps

  • Apply your product to clean, dry surfaces.
  • Measure carefully before cutting in order to apply the stripping continuously.
  • Apply to the entire door jamb, not just parts of it.
  • Make sure the stripping fits snugly and meets fully at corners.
  • For windows, apply stripping between the sash and the frame so that the stripping does not interfere with opening and closing.

If you’ve got questions about weatherstripping or how best to weatherize your home, contact the pros at Stack Heating & Cooling. We’re here to help Cleveland area homeowners.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Cleveland, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about weatherstripping and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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