Winter Warm Ups

Top Ten DIY Weatherization projects can still be done this New Year

Are you wishing that you had protected your home from drafts and lost energy, now that the snow and New Year are upon us? If you delayed because you didn’t know where to start, here’s my simple, Top 10 DIY Weatherization project list. It’s not too late.

Air Sealing vs. Insulation

Don’t be fooled by all the insulation commercials that you hear. Yes, insulation is an integral part of home weatherization and increased energy efficiency.  But you also need to reduce air flow by sealing gaps in walls and ceilings.  Most insulation products do not prevent air flow. 

Every place a light fixture, pipe, or vent penetrates through an exterior wall or ceiling a small gap is created.  If not sealed properly, air can move through that gap creating a draft.  So in winter, the air that you have paid to heat escapes into your attic, or up your chimney, or wherever it can find a gap.  The opposite happens in summer.  The heat from the exterior finds a way to creep inside, making your cooling system work harder than it has to.  The following products and procedures have been designed to make air sealing easy for most homeowners.

1. Caulk and spray foam ($5 to $15):  Use caulk or spray foam to seal gaps around water and drain pipes, range hood and dryer ducts, windows and doors, etc.  Be sure to check for non-shrinking types of caulk and recommended temperature ranges.  A closed-cell spray foam product is better than an open-cell foam because it is less susceptible to moisture.  Many foam products also have UV inhibitors.  For doors and windows, use a product specifically recommended for doors and windows.  Spray foams tend to expand when curing.  Door and window jambs can be adversely affected by this type of expansion making them hard to operate.  There are several no-VOC products available, including Geocel and Durashield, but see Winter Warm-Ups Update for more information about chemicals in these products.

 2. Chimney draftstops ($50 to $80): Wood-burning fires are so romantic, UNTIL you realize that your fireplace is sucking all the heat out of your house!  When not in use, a bladder type draftstop is an affordable and easy way to plug the hole. 

3. Recessed can light cover ($5 to $25):  Recessed light fixtures originally had to be designed to dissipate heat created by incandescent lamps.  But these fixtures also create a path for air movement especially when the fixture is in a ceiling that separates the interior room from the attic.  To combat this issue, there are two options.  You can replace the baffle on the inside with an air-tight version or, if you have access to the light in the attic, you can install a cover over the housing. 

4. Insulated attic access covers ($100 to $300): This can either be a pre-fabricated product or homemade.  Either way, it is important to make sure that the hatch is thoroughly sealed with weather stripping around the perimeter, and that a sufficient amount of insulation is provided over top. 

5. Whole house fan vent covers ($10 to $50): When not in use, these vents create an easy path for heat to escape.  A foil backed foam sheet and some Velcro will do the trick.  

6. Insulated outlet covers ($1 to $5):  Kits are available to add foam to your current outlet covers or for all-in-one foam integrated covers. 

7. Duct sealing ($5 to $15):  Simply keeping your ducting sealed will increase the efficiency of your mechanical heating and cooling system.  Use metal tape to seal gaps in the duct.  And, don’t forget about the furnace filter slot.  A magnetized plastic slot cover will do the trick. 

8. Exhaust vent sealers ($30 to $40):  This simple device minimizes drafts through the exhaust duct for dryers, bathroom vents, and kitchen hoods.  It also prevents birds, rodents, and insects from entering your home. 

9. Insulation (varies by product):  There is a different insulation product for every application.  Closed-cell spray foams seal gaps and insulate.  They provide the greatest R-value per inch of most other insulating products.  Open-cell spray foams are similar to closed-cell in that they also seal.  They are, however, more susceptible to moisture, which can make them break down faster.  They have a higher R-value per inch than blown and batt products.  Both closed- and open-cell products can be used in most applications, such as walls, attics, crawlspaces. But they require a little more technique than most DIYers have.  Blown insulation is great for attics and wall cavities.  It comes in a variety of types.  Cellulose (recycled paper), wool, and fiberglass are the most common.  Blown insulation depends on air to make it work, so it needs to be fluffy.  It is not wise to put a heavy material over top of blown insulation products.  Batts are preformed pieces of insulation, with the most commonly used being fiberglass.  However, there are batts also made from cotton (recycled blue jeans), wool, and flax.  These come with or without vapor barriers.  Also of concern to many are health hazards.  Most of the recycled and natural products do not contain urea formaldehyde and do not cause skin irritation. 

10. Energy audit (varies; some financial incentives available):  If you are still daunted by the task of weatherizing your own home, call in an expert.  Energy auditors assess the energy efficiency of your home through a series of tests and inspections.  A report, showing the types and costs of improvements, energy savings, and the return on investment, is then created.  Some state and local governments even offer grant, loan, and/or tax incentives to help cover the costs for these improvements.

 Home weatherization isn’t rocket science.  If you break it down into small steps, it can be a fairly stress-free and cost-effective home improvement project.

For more information on financial incentives available for weatherization and energy efficiency, contact your state’s Department of Energy or at http://www.energy.gov/recovery/index.htm.

– Heather Curless is Our LEED AP and Owner of Greener Stock, Cincinnati www.greenerstock.com