As temperatures begin to drop in the Twin Cities, weatherization is on the minds of most homeowners – and it should be. When it comes to saving on energy bills during the winter months, a little bit of work now will save you lots of green! That means it’s time to fix up cracks and gaps in exterior walls, adding insulation where needed and putting a stop to drafty windows and doors. But if you fall victim to the common caulking catastrophes below, you may find your energy bills on the rise this season.
Choosing the right type: with lots of options out there, it can be difficult to find the right one for the job. We recommend looking for 100% Silicone, not Acrylic to protect against water leakage as well as sealing to save energy. Silicone is permanently waterproof, flexible and shrink/crack-proof so it’s much more suitable than its Acrylic counterpart.
Don’t forget about the other leaks in your home. While sealing around windows and doors is great, there are lots of other areas that are prone to drafts and leaks. Do a walkthrough of the basement, attic and crawl space to make sure everything is sealed properly.
Remove old caulk before applying new. All you need for this task is a razor blade so there’s no room for excuses here.
Finish the job. You may think you’re all set after you’ve applied the caulk, but no job is complete without tooling, or smoothing. Use your finger to run along the caulked seam and smooth it out to ensure a tight seal.
Now that you’re an expert, set some time aside this weekend to button up your home for cooler temperatures. And know that when you need plumbing or heating service this season, Uptown is here to help!
