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Wherever you feel cold air coming in around a window or door, you have a leak and warm air will escape through the same gap. Drafts are costly, can cause discomfort and energy is wasted. Sealing gaps and cracks with caulking and weather stripping is one of the most cost-effective steps you can take to keep the heat inside your home, reducing heat loss by 5-10%. AffordabilityThe 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 the fastest payback of any home heating improvement. Even apartment dwellers and renters can draft proof parts of their homes. Cost savingsLosing warm air to the outside and having cold air gusting in costs money in wasted heating. Sealing your gaps can seal in savings. Health & comfortDamp air seeping in makes the indoor temperature feel colder than it is. Dry air can lead to problems with static and dry throats and skin. Sealing leaks will make your home more comfortable in all weather conditions. Environmental considerationsIn many homes, 20% of all heat loss is through leaks and poor ventilation. If 10,000 B.C. households with gas heating were draft proofed to cut gas consumption an average of 5% , it could save a kilotonne (1,000 tonnes) of CO2 emissions annually. |
ResourcesLook for LiveSmart BC and other incentives for energy-efficiency upgrades in the home in our Resources section. |
What you need to knowTo draft proof your home:
FAQDraft 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? If I can only make one home improvement this year, is draft proofing the one that will save the most energy? |
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Last Modified: Oct 29, 2009