DIY Home Energy Conservation Projects that Will Save You Big Bucks

Posted by admin on June 23, 2009 at 1:09 pm

Weatherizing windows. (image: vounteer_story via flickr.com)

by Carol Sonenklar

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No matter what the temperature, making sure your home is energy efficient will save you money all year round. If you live in a warm climate, you’ll be turning on your air conditioner soon. Improvements in your house’s infrastructure will help now with electricity bills and later, with heating oil bills. Taking these easy, inexpensive steps will help boost your home’s energy efficiency and save you money in any type of weather.

Caulking

Air leaks can waste up to 30 percent of your yearly energy bill. Making sure your windows and doors are airtight will save you money. Caulking is easy to do, inexpensive, and very effective. It will usually pay for itself in savings within one year.

Caulking is a compound used for filling cracks, holes, crevices, and joints on both the inside and outside of your home. In general, it should be applied wherever two different building materials meet on the interior or exterior of your home. Since different building materials expand and contract at various rates, places where different materials meet have a greater tendency to crack.

Through the years, with temperature extremes and caulk drying out, cracks develop between materials. Because these cracks allow air infiltration, the cracks need to be caulked.

Old, cracked caulk should be removed before new is applied. Check your home repair center for a “puttying tool” that will make the job easier. This is the perfect time of year to tackle this project since it should be above 40 degrees for caulk to be properly applied.

You can check for air leakage by moving your hand around the windows and doors on a windy day. If you can feel air movement, you need to caulk. Check these areas:

• Around doors and window frames
• Places where brick and wood siding meet.
• Between the foundation and walls.
• Around mail chutes.
• Around electrical and gas service entrances, cable T.V. and phone lines, and outdoor water faucets.
• Where dryer vents pass through walls.
• Around air conditioners.
• Around vents and fans.

Use different materials depending on the size and location of the gaps. Caulk is best for cracks and gaps less than 1/4 inch wide. Expanding foam sealant is good for sealing larger cracks and holes that are protected from sunlight and moisture. Rigid foam insulation may be used for very large openings, such as plumbing chases and attic hatch covers. Fiberglass insulation can also be used for sealing large holes, but it needs to be wrapped in plastic or stuffed in plastic bags because air can leak through fiberglass.

There are three types of caulking that cost $5 to $8 a cartridge:

• Silicon, which is the most durable
• Latex with silicon, which is the most economical
• Vinyl, where the caulking cartridge is inserted into a caulking gun.

Caulking guns run from $3 to $10. The best guns are the drip-free models.

Caulking around windows. (image: planetgreen.discovery.com)

How to caulk:

1. 1. Scrape and clean the area to be caulked, removing paint chips and dirt.
2. 2. Cut 1/4 inch off of the tip of the caulking tube with a utility knife.
3. 3. Slide tube into caulking gun.
4. 4. Run a 1/8-inch bead of caulk between window frame and siding. Look for any area where the elements outside can get into interior of your home.
5. 5. Smooth the bead of caulk with the edge of a putty knife ice cream stick. Clean excess buildup of caulk from the stick every 6 inches.
6. 6. Let dry for 24 hours before painting.