Weather Stripping Saves Money

Now is the time to tune up your home and save money for our hot summer cooling season.  Air leaks around your doors can be very costly.  But weather stripping is easy to install and can be very effective in lower your electricity bill.

You can use weather stripping in your home to seal air leaks around movable joints, such as windows or doors.

A quick test is the “Dollar Bill Test”.  Open your door and place a dollar bill between the door and the door jam, close the door.  Tug on the dollar bill, if it slips out easily that opening would benefit from additional weather stripping.

Choose a type of weather stripping that will withstand the friction, weather, temperature changes, and wear and tear associated with its location. For example, when applied to a door bottom or threshold, weather stripping could drag on carpet or erode as a result of foot traffic. Weather stripping in a window sash must accommodate the sliding of panes—up and down, sideways, or out. The weather stripping you choose should seal well when the door or window is closed while allowing it to open freely.

Choose a product for each specific location. Felt and open-cell foams tend to be inexpensive, susceptible to weather, visible, and inefficient at blocking airflow. However, the ease of applying these materials may make them valuable in low-traffic areas. Vinyl, which is slightly more expensive, holds up well and resists moisture. Metals (bronze, copper, stainless steel, and aluminum) last for years and are affordable. Metal weather stripping can also provide a nice touch to older homes where vinyl might seem out of place.

The DIY network has great how-to-videos about weather stripping.  You can see some of these at http://www.diynetwork.com/remodeling/weather-stripping-tips/index.html

Brought to you by;
Aaron’s Mechanical Services
623 -388-4436info@coolingaz.com
http://coolingaz.com