As the Starks of Winterfell in Game of Thrones say, “winter is coming.” And with the cold comes higher heating bills. Is it just an inevitability? Not so.
Winterizing your home can help save you energy and money in the long run. According to Canada’s Economic Action Plan, a good place to start is to make sure your doors are properly weather-stripped. But what is weather stripping?
Weather stripping refers to any material that provides a seal for an opening in your home that separates inside from outside. This includes doors, windows, vents or other permeable areas on your house.
The material is made from rubber, plastic or any polymers or composite materials that can provide good protection from the elements, but also to keep heat in. In winter this means safeguarding against snow and frost.
The typical heating cost savings of weather stripping is approximately $20 per door per year, the action plan estimates. The plan suggests a quick and easy check to see if your doors are properly sealed. Close a door on a piece of paper, then pull the paper out. If it takes a bit of effort to remove it, the door is good to go. If not, the weather stripping isn’t tight enough or it’s degraded, according to the plan.
Also check for any daylight or drafts of air coming through between the door and the frame.
The cost of weather stripping ranges from $10 to $40 and can be purchased at any home improvement store. For a more detailed description on how to install and the different types of weather stripping, visit home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/repair/how-to-apply-weatherstripping.htm.
