Reasons to weather-strip your home

Q: What’s the point of adding weather stripping around doors and windows? Today’s homes are pretty well built already. — Jake in Denver

A: It’s true that good quality, sturdy doors and windows are available these days, but not all homes have them installed – maybe the builder went with cheaper materials or the home is just older. And even when a house has double-paned windows and solid doors, continuing changes in the building, such as expansion and contraction, the foundation settling and so on, can create small gaps between the frame and the walls, or slightly misalign the door frame.

Still, you don’t always know whether drafts are getting in or heat is escaping. Before adding weather stripping, consider getting an energy or heat audit. Some electric utilities offer free or low-cost audit kits, or there are contractors who can perform a whole-house audit. Some are even using infrared technologies to pinpoint where heat is exiting the home.

Learning where a problem is developing allows you to better address the issue. For drafty doors and windows, weather stripping is an affordable solution in most cases.

Types of weather stripping vary: You can choose easy-to-install foam strips that have a glue backing, or more permanent, tight-fitting metal strips that provide an effective cushion between windows and their frames while allowing the windows to open and close normally.

Either one works well, particularly for windows, and is a far better option than covering windows with plastic.

Along with weather stripping, you can take some practical and cost-effective measures against drafts. Check the corners of the window and doorframes for cracks through which air can enter, and seal with caulk or putty. Put up heavy curtains to lessen the effects of window drafts. A door snake can keep drafts from blowing in under your door.

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