LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Cold weather is settling in, but your home may not be ready for winter. Brownsboro Hardware & Paint's Jim Lehrer says there are some easy and inexpensive ways to stop cold air from getting in.
Checking for air leaks using a candle or incense:
Turn off all combustion appliances such as gas burning furnaces and water heaters on a cool, very windy day.
Shut all windows, exterior doors, and fireplace flues.
Turn on all exhaust fans that blow air outside, such as your clothes dryer, bathroom fans, or stove vents, or use a large window fan to suck the air out of the rooms.
Light an incense stick and pass it around the edges of common leak sites. Wherever the smoke wavers or is sucked out of or blown into the room, there's a draft. You can also use a damp hand to locate leaks; any drafts will feel cool to your hand.
If you don't want to turn off your furnace, you can just turn on all your exhaust fans to depressurize your home.
Sealing electrical outlets and light switches:
Using a foam insulation kit for electrical outlets and wall plates will reduce drafts that can enter your home for walls that are exposed to exterior elements on one side.
Weatherstripping doors and windows:
You can use weatherstripping in your home to seal air leaks around movable building components, such as doors or operable windows. For stationary components, caulk is the appropriate material for filling cracks and gaps.
Before applying weatherstripping in an existing home, you will need to detect the air leaks and assess your ventilation needs to ensure adequate indoor air quality.
Here are a few basic guidelines:
Weatherstripping should be applied to clean, dry surfaces in temperatures above 20°F (-7° C).
Measure the area to be weatherstripped twice before making a cut.
Apply weatherstripping snugly against both surfaces. The material should compress when the window or door is shut.
When weatherstripping doors:
Choose the appropriate door sweeps and thresholds for the bottom of the doors.
Weatherstrip the entire door jamb.
Apply one continuous strip along each side.
Make sure the weatherstripping meets tightly at the corners.
Use a thickness that causes the weatherstripping to press tightly between the door and the door jamb when the door closes without making it difficult to shut.
For air sealing windows, apply weatherstripping between the sash and the frame. The weatherstripping shouldn't interfere with the operation of the window.
Insulating your hot water heater:
Just like insulating your walls or roof, insulating your hot water tank is an easy and inexpensive way to improve energy efficiency and save you money each month--especially in the winter. If your water tank is new, it is likely already insulated. If you have an older hot water tank, check to see if it has insulation with an R-value of at least 24. If not, consider insulating your water tank. You can find pre-cut jackets or blankets available from around $20.
Brownsboro Hardware & Paint
4858 Brownsboro Road
Louisville, KY 40207
502-897-1591
OR
9521 US Highway 42
Prospect, KY 40059
502-292-2595
Brownsboro Hardware & Paint is a locally owned, full-service hardware store in Louisville, Kentucky. With two locations we have been serving the East End of Louisville since 1960. They are your local source for Weber® grills, The Big Green Egg®, Benjamin Moore Paint® and all your hardware needs.
Copyright 2016 WDRB News. All Rights Reserved.
