Your air conditioning unit works hard to keep you cool and comfortable, and the last thing that you want is your costly conditioned air leaking out of your home. Without following good weatherstripping and caulking techniques, you will find your power bills shooting up as your A/C unit works overtime to maintain your desired temperature. Weatherstripping and caulking are two time-tested techniques that give your A/C unit and your budget a break.

Caulking techniques
Caulk fills in small gaps from which air may be leaking. The most common use of caulk is around door frames and windows, where they do not fit snugly enough against the wall. The following techniques will help you apply caulk properly:

• Clean and dry the area before applying caulk.
• Hold the caulking gun at a 45-degree angle.
• Apply the caulk in a straight line, without stopping.
• Completely fill cracks with the caulk, and then smooth the caulk with a putty knife.

Caulk does more than stop air leaks. It also blocks water from leaking around drains and faucet handles. If you have leftover caulk, use it to seal up any older fixtures that may be at risk for leaking water.

Weatherstripping techniques
For areas around doors and windows that you open and close frequently, you will need something stronger than caulk. Weatherstripping is your answer. Weatherstripping seals air leaks in areas around your doors or windows that will constantly move. To ensure your weatherstripping works, consider the following:

• Clean the surface where you want to apply the weatherstripping, and apply it on a warm, dry day to help it stick.
• Cut the weatherstripping to the exact length of the area that you’re covering.
• Choose a thickness that allows the door or window to open and close easily but still blocks air leaks.
• If you close the door and see light coming in around the cracks, your weatherstripping is too thin.

With these weatherstripping and caulking techniques combined, you can stay cool in the summer without spending more and more on your electricity bills. Simple and inexpensive, weatherstripping and caulk offer no-fuss ways to insulate your home. For more information, contact the friendly experts at Powers Heating & Air. We proudly serve residential and commercial customers in Peachtree City and the surrounding area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about weather stripping and caulking techniques and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Powers Heating & Air serves Peachtree, GA and the surrounding areas.  Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!