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Keep out the cold air with weatherstripping

By Joyce Koballa jkoballa@heraldstandard.Com 3 min read
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Keeping the cold air out and lowering heating bills can be as simple as replacing worn weatherstripping on doors and windows or caulking any holes and cracks.

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that reducing the amount of air that leaks in and out of a home is a cost-effective way to cut heating and cooling costs, improve durability, increase comfort, and create a healthier indoor environment.

“It’s most noticeable this time of year because of the cold weather,” said Tim Grindle, owner of Grindle Insulation in Uniontown. “If you can see that your drapes are moving it means its time to caulk around the window.”

Caulking and weatherstripping are two simple and effective air-sealing techniques recommended by the energy department that offer quick returns on investment.

Caulk is generally used for cracks and openings around door and window frames while weatherstripping is mainly used to seal doors and windows.

According to Grindle, caulking is a cheap and effective seal that most people can do themselves.

Grindle added that caulking can significantly cut down on the amount of air leakage in a home.

Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania notes on its website that customers can reduce home heating bills by as much as 30 percent with properly installed weatherstripping.

Some common weather stripping supplies include self stick plastic or vinyl, felt, reinforced foam, nonporous tape, a door sweep, silicone and various other seals.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program, air leaking through your home’s envelope, which includes the outer walls, windows, doors, and other openings, wastes a lot of energy and increases your utility costs.

“If you keep adding up the gaps, it’s like opening the door or window all the time,” said Grindle.

Grindle added that by sealing leaks and adding insulation you can also improve the overall comfort of your home.

Grindle said his business conducts insulation work for several electric companies as well as Columbia Gas, which pays for a blower door test or the use an infrared camera to determine where air is leaking for customers that qualify for its Audits and Rebates Energy Efficiency program.

The program is provided to residential heating customers and offers a free energy assessment (audit) of your home and up to $1,800 in incentives for auditor recommended home energy retrofits.

Grindle said a lot of people don’t realize that they qualify for the program because it is not based on low-income households.

Another recommendation for air leaks from Columbia Gas is closing the damper when your fireplace is not in use. This will not only prevent warm air from escaping, but it will also prevent cold air from coming down the chimney and into the house, the company advises.

It is also recommended that you have your chimney cleaned and inspected once a year.

An additional tip is to keep the draperies and shades on your windows that are facing the south open during the day to let the sunlight come into your home and closed at night to decrease the chill you may feel as a result of cold windows.

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