Weatherization Tips to Tighten Up Your Houston Area Home

Careful weatherization helps you keep your home more comfortable during Houston’s sweltering summers and chilly winters. That, in turn, translates to lower energy bills year round. To get started with your home weatherization, try these basic DIY improvements.

Stop Drafts From the Attic

The attic hatch is prone to air leaks that, in summer, let in hot air from the attic, along with humidity, dust, mold spores and other things you could do without. In winter, these leaks let the warm air seep out of your rooms.

Adding foam weatherstripping to the edges of the hatch goes a long way toward stopping the leaks. To reduce radiant heat gain and loss, install installation on the back of the hatch. Installation kits are available at home improvement stores.

Keep Doors and Windows Efficient

These areas also frequently leak air, causing not only energy loss, but also uncomfortable drafts in winter. If the glazing that seals your window glass to the wood is worn out, scrape out the old glazing and reglaze the window.

Seal around door and window frames with latex acrylic caulk. To seal moving surfaces, apply weatherstripping. Use self-adhesive foam to the molding stops of casement windows and V-strip weatherstripping in the channels on the sides of double hung windows.

Button Up the Walls

Check for cracks where exterior walls meet floors. You may need to lift the carpet to see them. Seal these gaps with caulk to reduce energy loss, drafts and the risk of pest infestations.

Electrical outlets and light switches on exterior walls tend to let in drafts, but you can solve this problem by installing specially made foam gaskets behind them.

Fireplaces, too, are a big source of air leakage. Make sure your fireplace’s glass doors close tightly. Keep the damper shut when the fireplace isn’t in use.

Learn more about helpful weatherization and heating services provided by Davis Air Conditioning & Heating or contact us today in Houston at (888) 710-5530 or Brazoria County at (888) 929-0049 to schedule a service appointment.