If the winter winds have you reaching for your overcoat, while you’re inside the house, it’s time to seal up those windows and doors! Air gaps not only allow the cold in, they allow the heat to escape. This will ultimately lead to unnecessarily high energy costs.

Whether you have old windows that need replacing or newer ones that have some wear, these easy fixes for drafty windows and doors will have you warm and toasty, and your heating bill will lower in no time.

In the south, we’re prone to fickle winter weather. One day it’s 15 degrees with howling winds and two days later you’re outside in a T-shirt. But there are fixes that will stop the drafts and leave your windows and doors operational.

Air leakage occurs when outside air enters and conditioned air leaves your house uncontrollably through cracks and openings. It’s not smart to rely on air leakage for ventilation. During cold or windy weather, too much air may enter the house.

When it’s warmer and less windy, not enough air may enter, which can result in poor indoor air quality. Air leakage also contributes to moisture problems that can affect your health and the structure’s durability. An added benefit is that sealing cracks and openings reduces drafts and cold spots, improving comfort.

Reducing the amount of air that leaks in and out of your home is a cost effective way to cut heating and cooling costs, improve durability, increase comfort, and create a healthier indoor environment. 

Caulking and weatherstripping are two simple and effective air-sealing techniques that offer quick returns on investment, often one year or less.

Caulk is generally used for cracks and openings between stationary house components such as around door and window frames. While weatherstripping is used to seal components that move, such as doors and operable windows.

Fireplace flues can also create a channel for air loss. Made from metal, fireplace flues can heat and cool over time causing the metal to warp or break. Consider an inflatable chimney balloon to seal your flue when not in use. 

Inflatable chimney balloons fit beneath your fireplace flue when not in use, are made from durable plastic, and can be removed easily and reused hundreds of times. If you forget to remove the balloon before making a fire, the balloon will automatically deflate within seconds of coming into contact with heat. 

A reasonably capable do-it-yourselfer can create an inexpensive, reusable fireplace flue plug by filling a plastic trash bag with fiberglass batt scraps and jamming it into the flue. Attach a durable cord with a tag that hangs down into the fireplace to remind you the flue is blocked and to provide an easy plug removal method.

Layering your window treatments will also stop the drafts from coming inside your home. Combining blinds, sheer curtains, and heavy drapes should provide enough protection for all weather. When it’s frigid outside, keep everything closed.

If it’s cold and the room gets direct sunlight, raise the blinds, open the drapes, and let the sunshine in to help warm the space. Also, pairing a cornice with close-fitting drapes that hang snugly to the window reduces airflow by 25 percent.

If you follow these simple but effective fixes to your home, you’ll stay warmer and, better yet, you’ll ultimately save money on energy costs!  

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