DIY How to Air Seal a Home With Foam
One of the biggest contributors to high heating bills is loss of heat through cracks and crevices in your home. Your exterior walls, windows and doors, even your outlets, can leak air. Spray foam insulation is a simple way to reach areas that are hard to insulate with fiberglass or board foam insulation. Air sealing a home refers to sealing off air leaks. You can do this by using spray foam insulation, caulk, gaskets or plastic sheeting. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Spray foam
- Caulk
- Weatherstripping
- Plastic sheeting for insulation (includes adhesive)
Instructions
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Locate the leaks in your home. Some leaks are easy to identify because you can feel the draft coming in from around your door or window. Other leaks may require more investigation, including cracks along baseboards, leaks around a dryer or stove vent or other holes. Look for places where things enter or leave your home such as cables, cords or larger items like an air conditioner.
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Select a spray foam that is suitable for your home. Most spray foams are latex-based. These come with a small straw that is attached to the nozzle and is then inserted into areas that need to be filled.
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Caulk areas around doors and windows with a caulk appropriate to the application. A silicone-based caulk, for example, is appropriate in a bathroom because it resists water.
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Place gaskets or weatherstripping around doors or to seal new drywall to a frame.
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Seal plastic sheets over windows that are uninsulated or do not have storm windows. Plastic sheeting, which can be trimmed to fit and then adhere to a window with double-sided tape or adhesive, can then be shrunk down with a hair dryer to make an effective air barrier.
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