In this second part of winterizing your home, we will be talking about doors and windows. Do you have broken or missing storm doors and windows? Are the seals missing or partially missing around your doors and windows? Are your doors and windows insulated well around the outside frame? Lets take a closer look.
Signs of Heat Loss
So what do you look for? Some signs are easy to see and others take a little more work. Obviously, if your storm doors and windows are broken or missing it is easy for cold air to get in and hot air get out. To find less obvious cracks, move your hand around the window or door and you will be able to feel cool air coming through any openings. Next, look at the seals around all the sides. When the door or window is closed you should not see daylight around the outside edges. Lastly, check the quality of insulation by removing the trim around your doors and windows.
Addressing Window and Door Heat Loss
So now you know how to find weak spots but what are the solutions? Most repairs are simple. Adding insulation around the frame or a door or window and taping the crack before replacing the trim will prevent cold air from getting in around the frame. If there are cracks that are too small to fill with insulation around frames you can caulk with a good quality outdoor caulk. Where seals are missing or damaged, most can be replaced. New flanges, sweeps, weather stripping and door thresholds are available for purchase. Depending on the construction of the windows or doors, you may have to remove some screws before you can put up the new flanges, sweeps, and weather stripping, but others will just slide into a groove. Storm doors and windows that are damaged or missing can also be replaced or fixed.
Although there are many ways that you can lose heat from your home, the good news is that most fixes are easy!
If you need help assessing your home’s heat loss or addressing heat loss issues, contact me!
Please like this post if you found it helpful or write me a comment below.
Cream City Maintenance & Remodeling, LLC 