Draft Proof Your Home

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Quick Facts Affordability Cost Savings CO2 Reduction		Just as cracks and gaps leave room for cold air to come in during the winter, they allow warm air to enter your house and cool air to leave in the summer months. Drafts are costly, cause discomfort and waste energy year-round. Sealing gaps or cracks with caulking and weather stripping is a cost-effective step you can take to keep your home cool in summer and warm in winter.  Affordability The materials you need to seal the gaps are inexpensive. You can purchase many of them at local hardware stores and install them yourself. In fact, draft proofing generally has a fast payback with year-round energy savings. Even apartment dwellers and renters can draft proof parts of their homes. Cost savings Losing cool air to the outside and having hot air seeping in costs money in wasted air conditioning or fan use. Sealing your gaps can seal in savings. Health & comfort Damp air seeping in makes the indoor temperature feel colder than it is. Dry air can lead to problems with static as well as dry throats and skin. Sealing leaks will help to regulate the year-round indoor air temperature and humidity, which can greatly increase the comfort of your home.  Environmental considerations Draft proofing does not require a lot of materials, which makes it a relatively low-impact way to conserve energy. That benefits you and the planet.

What you need to know

To draftproof your home:

• It is good to start at the bottom of the house and work your way up.
• Remove any old, damaged caulk or weatherstripping before you begin.
• Caulk around baseboards, sump pump lids, openings in the attic, and between an uninsulated attic or basement and the living areas of the house. Seal the top of foundations for added efficiency.
• Use a smoking incense stick to find leaks or run your hand over windowsills, doors and walls to feel for drafts.
• Doors get warped by use and weather, leaving gaps between the door and frame. If your exterior doors are drafty, caulk between the doorframe and the wall, and add weatherstripping along the top and edge of the door. For added protection, you can also put weatherstripping along the vertical doorstop to press against the face of the door when closed.
• Install a door sweep on the bottom edge of your door or attach weatherstripping along the bottom of the door or on the threshold. Weatherstripping attached to the door itself needs to be extra durable.
• Use weatherstripping and caulking to seal around windows.
• Joints shift over time and change with changes in moisture and temperature, leaving gaps and cracks. Use caulking to seal the spaces between interior joints, around non-opening windows, and around water pipes and vents. Choose a caulking that is appropriate to the task. Refer to the Buyer’s Guide for information on selecting a product.
• You can purchase gaskets that fit behind the cover plates of electrical outlets and lighting fixtures to reduce leakage. Caulk the edges of these gaskets. There are also electric outlet and wallplate insulators for outlets located on exterior walls.
• Hang interior window coverings to help regulate temperature. See our Shade Your Windows tip to learn more.
• It is possible to over-seal your house, leaving it prone to mold or carbon monoxide issues. Get an Energy Advisor to do a home energy assessment. The blower door test will identify areas of leakage and help determine when mechanical ventilation is required. A professional can also determine if sealing all or any of the gaps could lead to rot if there is also a moisture issue that will no longer be dried by the air leakage.
• Keep in mind that controlled air circulation is essential for a healthy and comfortable home. If you seal your house, consider installed a Heat Recovery Ventilator for efficient ventilation. You can also have an electrician install a dehumidistat in your bathroom. These devices can be set to automatically turn on the fan when moisture levels get high. Or, use a timer and set it to run longer after showers. See our Upgrade Your Ventilation tip for more information.
• Note that for new home construction, the B.C. ventilation guideline recommends running an exhaust fan twice a day for four hours.
• In an older home or any home with flame combustion devices, such as a gas hot water heater or an oil furnace, ensure there is sufficient combustion air through an air intake system.

FAQ

Draft proofing my ducts or around my windows seems like a big job for me to do. Are there contractors who you can hire to do this kind of work?
Yes. It’s true that some parts of a home are easier to draft proof than others and a contractor will generally be able to do a neat and thorough job. Talk to a few carpenters to get estimates or, if you have an energy audit, ask your auditor for a list of contractors.

If I can only make one home improvement this year, is draft proofing the one that will save the most energy?
The best improvements for you to make depend on the state of your home, your location and your energy use. For a house older than 10 or 15 years, draft proofing can have significant effects because of its year-round energy savings. However, depending on your situation, it is not necessarily the most effective thing you can do. An energy audit by a qualified auditor will assess the most effective steps for you to take to improve your home’s efficiency.