The first step in tightening up your home is finding the air leaks that need to be sealed.
Why? A 1/16th-inch unsealed crack around a window can let in as much cold air as leaving the window open three inches!
An easy way to find air leaks is to hold a tissue between two fingers and hold it over the area - drafts will cause the tissue to blow around.
If you’re not sure where to look, print the Air Leak Checklist by the Iowa Energy Center, or try Alliant Energy’s My Home Comfort Check Up energy audit.
The chart below shows the primary places outside air infiltrates your home. Most are easy to fix with some inexpensive weatherizing materials:  |
