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Home Air Leak Sealing Guide

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Stop wasting energy and improve your home's comfort with this comprehensive guide to sealing air leaks. Designed for homeowners and DIY enthusiasts, this tutorial teaches you how to identify drafts and apply professional-grade weatherstripping and caulk. You will learn the essential steps to secure your windows and doors, effectively lowering your utility bills.

Safety Warnings

  • Extinguish all pilot lights on stoves and water heaters before performing any DIY air leak tests using powerful fans.
  • Ensure all fireplace flues are closed before conducting air sealing tests.
  • When working on fireplaces, ensure the flue is open before lighting a fire if a plug or balloon was used.

Tools Needed

caulk gun — IRWIN
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utility knife — DEWALT
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screwdriver — Phillips #2
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measuring tape — standard
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putty knife — standard
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Materials

exterior-grade silicone caulk — waterproof/paintable(2-3 cartridges)
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weatherstripping — closed-cell foam or V-strip(as needed per perimeter)
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door sweep — adjustable aluminum with rubber blade(1 per exterior door)
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foam gaskets — insulating wall plate gaskets(1 per outlet/switch)
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rubbing alcohol — isopropyl(1 bottle)
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Steps

1
Detect air leaks by feeling for drafts with your hand, looking for daylight around closed doors, or using a lit incense stick or candle to watch for wavering smoke near windows and frames.
2
Remove old, brittle weatherstripping or peeling caulk using a putty knife or screwdriver. Thoroughly clean the surfaces with soap and water or rubbing alcohol to ensure new adhesives bond securely.
3
Measure the perimeters of windows and door jambs. Cut the weatherstripping to fit, ensuring the material is applied snugly so that it compresses when the door or window is closed.
4
Install the weatherstripping along the jambs and sashes. For the bottom of exterior doors, attach a door sweep or shoe, ensuring it brushes the floor evenly without preventing the door from opening smoothly.
5
Apply a consistent bead of exterior-grade caulk to stationary gaps, such as where window and door frames meet the siding. Smooth the bead with a wet finger or tool before it skins over.
6
Seal interior air leaks by installing foam gaskets behind electrical outlet and switch plates on walls. For larger gaps around baseboards, use low-expansion spray foam.
7
Test the seals by closing all doors and windows and checking for remaining drafts. Use the 'dollar bill test' by closing a door on a bill; if it slides out easily, the seal is insufficient.

Pro Tips

  • Apply weatherstripping on a dry day in temperatures above 20°F for the best adhesion.
  • Add 5% to 10% extra weatherstripping material to your measurements to accommodate waste.
  • Use painter's masking tape on either side of a joint before caulking to achieve clean, professional lines.

When to Call a Professional

For hard-to-reach attic leaks or comprehensive blower-door testing, contact a professional energy auditor.

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