The Most Cost-Effective Energy-Saving Measure You Can Take

You'd like to reduce energy costs, but where do you start? There are many options for improving your home's energy efficiency. Which one will have the biggest impact?

Heating and cooling makes up nearly half of household energy use, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Air leaks account for up to 30% of home heating and cooling costs by making these systems work harder to maintain a comfortable indoor environment. So, for many households, sealing air leaks can have the most immediate payoff in terms of reducing energy costs and improving home comfort.

Finding air leaks

Air leaks can occur anywhere indoors meets outdoors, and leaks can sometimes be hard to spot. Some particular areas of concern include:

Gaps around exterior doors and cracked caulking around window frames.
Holes around where plumbing, wiring or ductwork penetrate exterior walls in the basement.
Gaps around ceiling fans, recessed light fixtures and electrical outlets in the attic.

Fixing air leaks

Sealing air leaks is typically a simple and inexpensive project you can do yourself. Seal windows with exterior caulk. Your best bet is silicone or siliconized caulk. Follow these steps:

Where the window meets the frame, scrape out any existing caulk and make sure the area is clean and dry.
Cut the tips of the caulk at a 45-degree angle and load it into the caulking gun.
Run the tips slowly and evenly along the base of the crack.
Finish by running a wet fingertip along the bead of the caulk to smooth it out.

Fix gaps around exterior doors with weatherstripping and a door sweep. Follow these steps:

Measure the top and sides of the door and cut pieces of weatherstripping to fit each.
Peel back the covering from the adhesive and press the weatherstripping to the inside of the doorstop, ensuring a snug fit.
Cut the sweep (if needed) to match the width of the door and attach it with adhesive or screws.

In the attic, pull back the insulation to find the cutouts and seal them with caulk or expandable foam. Check for and seal gaps around plumbing vents, furnace flues and ductwork. Also, seal the attic door or access with weatherstripping.

For basement air leaks, caulk is best for sealing gaps or cracks that are one-quarter inch or smaller. Use expandable foam to fill gaps up to three inches. Fill larger gaps by cutting and stuffing pieces of insulation.

If you don't feel comfortable doing the work yourself, contact a qualified home energy professional. Sealing air leaks can go a long way toward optimizing the comfort and efficiency of your home.