DIY Energy Audit: Drafty Windows

A cool breeze coming through the windows in the summer is refreshing. But a cool breeze coming through your window in the winter? No thank you!

Via

A professional energy audit is helpful, but expensive.  Our multi-part series on how to perform your own energy audit will save you money on the audit and on your monthly energy bills.

If you have leaky windows, not only will the cool air come in, but the warm air will escape.  This can account for 10 to 25% of your heating bill.

How to identify the source of a draft: On a windy, blustery day close all of the windows, doors and chimney flues (if you have a fire place).  With a lite stick of incense, move it around the windows and doors. Look for air the disrupts the smoke coming from the incense stick. If it flutters or changes direction - you know, you have a leak.

How to correct a leak:

1. Check the window from the outside of the house. Pay special attention to the casing where the window meets the house's siding. 
2. Scrape off any dried or cracking calking and apply fresh calk.
3. On the inside of the house, add new weather stripping. 

Each window that you weather proof can shave $20 off your annual energy expenses. 10 windows - $200! That combined with the savings from IDT Energy can really add up!

Stay tuned for our next DIY Energy Audit and watch for more tips on Facebook.