“I don’t feel any drafts. Is weatherizing really going to help?”

Plugging even the smallest of leaks decreases energy consumption and lowers your bills

A typical home loses a houseful of warm air every hour. Air seeps out of the tiniest of openings and even new homes have air leaks. But they’re worth finding since stopping that heat loss can reduce energy bills as much as 10%.

People often find leaks they didn’t know about where walls meet floors and ceilings, where plumbing or ductwork enters a wall, around doors and windows, and even through electrical outlets.

Use caulk and weather stripping to seal those places. At your local hardware store you can find insulating material designed to fit behind your wall outlets. If you have a fireplace or fans and vents that exit to the outside, make sure they’re closed and covered for the winter season.

Other weatherproofing tips include:

• Use weather stripping around door frames.
• Caulk and seal around plumbing pipes, window frames and doors.
• Install foam insulation under outlet covers.
• Install plastic sheeting over drafty windows.
• Clean the exhaust fan on your clothes dryer.

Links We Recommend

The City of Chicago’s Web site includes information on the Chicago Bungalow Initiative, which provides grants and tax incentives to owners and potential owners of Chicago bungalows. The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation has awarded a $3.5 million energy-efficiency grant to the City of Chicago, which provides matching grants of up to $2,000 to allow owners of historic Chicago Bungalows to make their homes more energy efficient.

The American Gas Association provides some great tips on topics like properly insulating your home and knowing how to use energy wisely.

The State of Illinois’ Web site contains a wealth of information on staying warm while saving energy in an easily printable brochure.

DIY Network’s site contains valuable information on weatherproofing your home yourself and a number of other do-it-yourself projects aimed at making your home more energy efficient.

For more detailed tips on weatherproofing, visit our resource page.