Weatherization
Preventing outside elements like air and water finding their way into your house.
To increase comfort and save on your energy bills, it’s necessary to assure that the outside elements like air and water don’t find their way into your house.
The first step to weatherization is testing for air tightness. A professional blower door test works the best. However, you can self test to find major air leaks on a windy day by holding a smoking incense stick in front of and around windows, doors, attic or crawl space hatches, electrical outlets, plumbing penetrations, dropped ceilings, and ceiling fixtures. You will be able to see an air leak if the smoke travels in a straight line instead of a cloud.
If you do find leaks, here are some suggestions for dealing with them:
Area | Improvement Suggestions |
| Dropped ceiling | Air seal ceiling above with canned foam or caulk |
| Recessed light housings | Have professionally air sealed with high-temperature silicone sealant or replace with properly installed new light can |
| Attic and crawlspace hatch covers | Weatherstrip and caulk around frame perimeter. Add insulation to the hatch. |
| Foundation sill plate joints | Seal with caulk or foam. |
| Water and furnace flues, plumbing vents | Seal with expanding foam or caulk. If joint is too large, stuff with fiberglass insulation, and spray foam over the top to seat the surface of the plug. |
| Duck boots and registers | Caulk or foam the joint between the boot and the ceiling, wall, or floor. |
| Duct chases | Have professionally sealed |
| Doors and door frames | Make sure the doors close properly. Weatherstrip and caulk. |
| Masonry chimneys | Seal sheet metal flashing with a high temperature sealant or chimney cement. |
| Window frames | Make sure they close and latch properly. Weatherstrip and caulk. |
| Electrical outlets and switches | Add preformed foam gaskets from hardware store. Insert childproof caps. |
| Plumbing and utility access | Spray foam insulation at penetrations in floor, crawlspace, and attic. |
There are some tasks better left to professionals:
- If a duct test determines leaking heating ducts, have them professionally sealed.
- For air leaking through canned lighting fixtures, it’s recommended to replace them with properly installed newer sealed fixtures or have them professionally air sealed with high-temperature silicone sealant.
Keep out the draft in winter
If replacement with newer, more energy-efficient double and triple-paned models is not an option, consider installing storm windows over single-pane windows. Storm windows may effectively double the R-value of a single-pane window and can help reduce drafts, water condensation, and frost formation.
As a less costly and less permanent alternative in the winter, you can use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames. Remember that the plastic must be sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration. Follow the instructions on the package if it calls for using a hair dryer to shrink the plastic in place.
Install window treatments and keep them drawn to hold in the heat during the winter and keep out the heat on those hot summer days. There are materials available with insulating properties made just for this purpose.
For more suggestions and resources, see Clark Public Utilities’ information on Reducing Home Air Leaks.
Weatherization Assistance
Find out if you qualify for the Weatherization Assistance program, which is free to qualified low-income homeowners and renters, and provides energy efficiency and indoor air quality improvements for single-family, multifamily, and mobile homes.