Seal up those openings and cracks now to help save money later

Having cold air enter your home around windows and doors in the winter months is a bad thing. Fortunately, there are a couple of do-it-yourself solutions to help keep cold air outside where it belongs and help reduce your monthly energy usage.

Caulking

All you need is a putty knife, a tube of caulk and a caulking gun. (If the caulk is in a squeeze tube, you don’t need a gun.) Remove any old caulk with the putty knife and clean the area so the new caulk will get a better seal. Cut the nozzle on the caulk tube at a 45-degree angle and apply a steady line of caulk. Finally, smooth out the caulk with your finger and wipe off any extra.

Weatherstripping

From self-sticking vinyl used primarily around windows to door sweeps, weatherstripping is fairly easy to install and not very expensive. Make sure whichever type you choose seals well but doesn’t interfere with opening and closing your doors/windows.