Tips For Proper Weatherization

Whether you are building, renovating or purchasing a new home, proper weatherization and insulation of your new home can save you up to 40 percent on your heating and cooling bills. We've put together a list of what to look for in the attic, basement or crawlspace, around windows and doors, in the living area and around your home's exterior.

In the attic.

• Weatherstripping and insulation in the attic access door.
• Make sure the outside of the chimney is sealed with metal flashing and high-temperature sealant such as flue caulk or muffler cement.
• Sealed plumbing vents in the attic floor and in the roof. While you're there check roof flashings (where the plumbing vent pipes pass through the roof) for signs of water leakage.
• Check for fiberglass insulation around electrical wire penetrations at the top of interior walls and where wires enter ceiling fixtures.
• Make sure there are no other holes between the heated space and the attic.

In the basement or crawlspace.

• Make sure all heating or A/C ducts are sealed and insulated.
• Seal any holes that allow air to rise from the basement or crawlspace directly into the living space above. Check around plumbing, chimney, and electrical penetrations.
• Basement window frames should be caulked.

Around windows and doors.

• Look for caulking on the inside around window and door trim and where the frame meets the wall and all other window woodwork joints.
• All exterior doors, including those to garages and porches should have weatherstipping.

In living areas.

• Install foam-rubber gaskets behind electrical outlets and switch trim plates on exterior walls.
• Use paintable or colored caulk around bath and kitchen cabinets on exterior walls.
• Thoroughly look for cracks wherever the floor meets exterior walls.
• If you have a fireplace and don't plan on using it often than you'll want to plug the flue with an inflatable plug, or install a rigid insulation plug. If you do plan on using it frequently, make sure the damper closes tightly when a fire isn't burning.

Around the exterior.

• Make sure you caulk wherever electrical, telephone, cable, gas, dryer vents, and water lines enter the house. In some cases where there are large gaps you will want to use fiberglass insulation.
• Check for chaulking around all sides of window and door frames to keep out the rain and reduce air infiltration.
• Check your dryer exhaust vent hood to make sure that there is a flapper and that it seals tightly. Just because it's new doesn't mean pieces aren't missing.

It's a good idea to have a home energy audit done on your new home to help you see which of your home's features is using the most energy so you can make the necessary adjustments to reduce your energy use.