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| Before eliminating
leaks, you first have to find them.
Drafts or moisture make leaks around
windows and doors obvious, but holes
hidden in attics, basements, and crawl
spaces can be the biggest energy wasters
and the hardest to spot.
Heating and cooling a home uses more
energy and drains more energy dollars
than any other system. Typically, 43
percent of an average American utility
bill goes for heating and cooling.4
So, step one to saving energy and
money ─
find and seal the leaks in your
home.
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| Leakage is likely
to be greatest where walls (inner and
outer) meet the attic floor, dropped
soffits (dropped-ceiling areas), and
behind or under attic kneewalls. Look
for dirty insulation, a tell tale sign
of air leakage. Other areas prone to
leakage include: around the chimney,
plumbing pipes, wires, and other penetrations
in the ceiling.
Flexibility is key in unheated spaces.
Freezing temperatures, which are common
in unheated spaces such as attics and
basements, can cause acrylic caulk to
lose flexibility and crack over time.
As the seasons change and joints expand
and contract, that cracked caulk leaves
openings for air to seep through. Using
a permanently flexible silicone caulk
means your efforts will deliver sustained
sealing benefits, protecting against
future energy loss. 100 percent silicone
maintains its flexibility, so it can
stretch and compress without cracking,
to protect against energy loss.
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| Look around the doorframe
for light. If you can see daylight,
that is a sure sign that air is also
getting through, and you should seal
the gaps where the frame meets the home.
Exterior doors and windows are exposed
to harsh outdoor elements throughout
the year. Extreme heat and the sun’s
UV rays can cause acrylic caulk to crack
and crumble over time. 100 percent silicone
is shrink-proof and crack-proof, so
regardless of weather conditions, it
continues to fill the gap or crack just
as it did when first applied. Weatherization
efforts are intended to provide sustained
benefits. Go with a permanent solution.
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| On a windy day, close
all of the windows and doors in your
home. Then use a lighted incense stick
to go around each door and window to
search for air leaks. Moving air will
cause the smoke to waver. If you can
see or feel air leaks around the door
or window, apply silicone caulk to the
gap. (Tip: If you wish to paint the
surface, simply use Paintable Silicone
caulk.) Exterior doors and windows are
exposed to harsh outdoor elements
throughout
the year. Extreme heat and the sun’s
UV rays can cause acrylic caulk to crack
and crumble over time. 100 percent silicone
is shrink-proof and crack-proof, so
regardless of weather conditions, it
continues to fill the gap or crack just
as it did when first applied. |
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| Holes from the original installation
of pipes and wires can be quite large,
allowing significant airflow in or out
of a house. Major leakage sites can
be found around plumbing, ducts, recessed
lighting, phone/TV cables, and electrical
wiring penetrations through floors,
walls, and the exterior of the home.
Seal with 100 percent silicone caulk.
Water can wreak havoc beyond just water
damage. Rain, snow, and sleet can seep
in around plumbing and electrical wiring.
100 percent silicone is permanently
waterproof, meaning it is impervious
to water.
Water will never break it down. In
fact, it remains unaffected by all weather
and temperature conditions so it helps
prevent gaps and cracks, through which
water (and energy dollars) can pass,
from reforming. Leaks are never a good
thing, but they're even more dangerous
when you assume they don’t exist following
your sealing efforts.
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| A common area of
air leakage in the basement is along
the top of the basement wall where cement
or blocks come in contact with the wood
frame. Use silicone caulk to seal gaps
around the foundation, electrical penetrations,
pipes (water and gas), and ventilation
ducts in the basement.
Flexibility is key in unheated
spaces. Freezing temperatures, which
are common in unheated spaces such as
attics and basements, can cause acrylic
caulk to lose flexibility and crack
over time. As the seasons change and
joints expand and contract, that cracked
caulk leaves openings for air to seep
through. Using a permanently flexible
silicone caulk means your efforts will
deliver sustained sealing benefits,
protecting against future energy loss.
100 percent silicone maintains its flexibility
so it can stretch and compress without
cracking, to protect against energy
loss.
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Why Does My Home Lose Energy? All homes,
both new and old, develop gaps and cracks over time
that allow warm air to leak in during summer and
escape during winter. These simple leaks zap
a home’s energy efficiency from 5% to 30% a year5.
Leaks not only increase utility bills but also
diminish returns on other energy upgrades, which are forced to work harder in an inefficient home.
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