Down here in Corpus Christi, we don’t have that much of an issue with winter, but it can get chilly when a cold front arrives. People who live in older homes know how drafty conditions can prevail during a cold spell. Maybe you have to run the heating unit at full blast to warm up, leading to a spike in utility bills and questions about what you could do to make it warmer next time temperatures plummet.
One of the best methods for warming things up is draft prevention. Here’s how to keep cold air out and warm air in — and lower your heating bills while you’re at it.
Find Air Leaks
The first thing to do is to find air leaks. You can probably feel places where cold air leaks in, such as around windows and doors, through electric switch plates, and around baseboards. But if you think you’ve missed some spots, go around your home with a lit stick of incense and hold it next to target areas such as those mentioned, as well as holes through an exterior wall for cables, pipes, and wiring; at the bottom of exterior doors; and where corners meet at exterior walls. If the smoke wavers, you have an air leak.
Also, when you’re scheduling your fall furnace maintenance, have the HVAC tech inspect your ductwork to make sure you’re not losing conditioned air through your ducts.
Fix Leaks
You can fix most leaks yourself with weather stripping, caulk, and insulation.
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- Run weather stripping on the edge of the door so that there is no gap between the door and the jamb.
- Affix a door sweep to the bottom of the door.
- Run weather stripping between window pane frames.
- Caulk around door and window frames.
- Wrap insulation around pipes under the sink where they run through an exterior wall. Do the same for wires and cables.
- Install a foam gasket inside the plastic covers of electric switch plates.
To learn more about draft prevention, contact CCAC. We provide quality installations, repairs, and maintenance for Corpus Christi and the surrounding area.
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