The Importance of Weatherizing Your Home

Are your energy bills consistently higher than expected when it’s extremely hot in the summer or freezing cold in the winter? It might be time to consider weatherizing your home so that it’s airtight and energy-efficient in every season.

Weatherization comes down to making small improvements that keep your home’s temperature consistent and comfortable while reducing the strain on your heating and cooling systems. Weatherizing your home can help you save money, extend the lifespan of your appliances and even improve the air quality inside your home.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most important steps you should take to weatherize your home.

The Benefits of Weatherizing Your Home

Weatherizing your home offers several key benefits:

• Enhanced Comfort: By keeping outdoor air where it belongs—outside—you can enjoy a more comfortable home year-round.
• Energy Efficiency: Weatherization reduces the amount of energy your home needs for heating and cooling, which can lower your utility bills. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), weatherized energy-efficient homes not only enjoy lower utility costs—they also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a healthier environment and improved air quality.
• Improved Indoor Air Quality: Sealing up your home can also keep out dust, pollen and other pollutants, making the air inside cleaner and healthier.

19 Simple Steps to Weatherize Your Home

1. Start with an Energy Audit

The first step in weatherizing your home is scheduling a professional home energy audit. An energy audit is an assessment of your home's energy efficiency, kind of like a check-up for your house.

During your audit, a home energy expert will assess your home to find out where it’s losing energy and how you can fix it. After the inspection, they’ll provide you with a prioritized list of improvements you can make to improve your home’s energy efficiency, comfort and safety.

According to the DOE, you can save 5–30% on your energy bill by making the energy-saving upgrades recommended in your home energy audit. A home energy auditor uses special tools to assess your home and pinpoint opportunities for improvement. An auditor’s toolkit may include:

• Telescoping ladder
• Infrared camera
• Combustion analyzer
• Blower door
• Manometer
• Smoke generating device
• Watt meter
• Soap bubbles
• Digital probe thermometer
• Inspection mirror
• Draft gauge
• Moisture meter

They may bring additional tools, including a screwdriver, pliers, wrench, tape measure, flashlight, batteries, and more.

When you begin weatherizing your home, you can use your energy audit, which highlights the areas in your home that need the most attention for maximizing your energy savings, as a roadmap.

🧑‍🔧Energy Tip: EPB customers can sign up for a free home energy audit with the EPB Energy ProsSM. Schedule your free EPB Home Energy CheckupSM here.

2. Insulate Your Attic

Attics are one of the most common sources of heat loss in a home. Without proper insulation, your attic can allow cold air to seep into your living spaces during the winter and let hot air in during the summer, making it harder for your HVAC system to maintain a comfortable temperature.

Ensuring your attic is well insulated is crucial for maintaining indoor comfort and maximizing energy savings. By properly insulating your attic, you can reduce your home’s monthly energy costs by up to 10%, according to the DOE.

🧑‍🔧Energy Tip: EPB customers can get up to $500 back for attic insulation. Learn more.

Follow these steps to properly insulate your attic:

• Learn how insulation works. Insulation provides resistance to heat flow, helping to keep your home’s temperature consistent. It works by slowing down heat movement through conduction (heat traveling through materials), convection (heat circulating through air) and radiation (heat traveling in straight lines).
• Find the right R-value for your region. The effectiveness of insulation is measured by its R-value: the higher the R-value, the better the insulation. It’s important to choose insulation with an R-value appropriate for your climate to ensure your home stays comfortable year-round. Refer to this map from the DOE to find the correct R-value for your region.
• Choose the best type of attic insulation for your home. There are several types of insulation that can be used in your attic:
  • Blanket Insulation (Batts and Rolls): Common, easy to install and made from fiberglass.
  • Loose-Fill Insulation: Blown into place and great for filling gaps.
  • Spray Foam Insulation: Expands to fill cavities and is ideal for hard-to-reach areas.
  • Rigid Foam Insulation: Rigid panels of insulation provide a high R-value per inch and are often used in addition to other types of insulation.
  • Radiant Barriers: Reflective materials that reduce heat gain and are especially useful in hot climates.
• Insulate important areas in your attic, including:
  • Attic Access Points: Don’t forget to insulate and air seal your attic access door, as this can be a major source of heat loss.
  • Knee Walls: If your attic has knee walls — vertical walls with attic space directly behind them — make sure these are insulated and air-sealed as well.
  • Radiant Barrier: If you live in a particularly hot climate, installing a radiant barrier in your attic can help reduce heat gain during the summer.

🧑‍🔧Energy Tip: Want to learn more about insulating your home? Check out this video from your EPB Energy Pros.

4. Apply Caulking to Seal Stationary Gaps

Adding caulk is another easy, affordable way to stop drafts. Caulking is a flexible material that can help close gaps that are less than a quarter of an inch wide. It works better for stationary surfaces.

Caulking Tips:

• The best time to seal gaps with caulk is when the weather is dry and warmer than 45ºF.
• Completely clean and dry the area before applying caulking.
• Hold the caulking gun at a consistent 45º angle to apply the material directly into the crack.
• Apply the caulking continuously without stopping if possible.
• If any caulking falls out of the gap, use a putty knife or other object to push it back in.

5. Add Draft Stoppers To The Inside Of Exterior Doors

Draft stoppers are a cheap and easy way to prevent air from entering or escaping under your exterior doors. They work by providing an extra layer of foam or other insulation to prevent airflow. You can purchase packs of foam door draft stoppers online or at most home improvement stores.

6. Install Foam Gaskets Behind Outlet Covers And Switch Plates

Did you know air can leak through the electrical outlets on your exterior walls? Installing foam gaskets behind outlet covers and switch plates is a simple fix that can help keep your home more energy efficient. This is a very cost-effective form of weatherization that can be done easily on your own.

🦺Safety Tip: Childproof your home by covering unused outlets with outlet covers. Watch this quick video to learn more.

7. Upgrade Your Thermostat To A Programmable One (Or A Smart Thermostat)

Switching to a programmable or smart thermostat is a great way to save energy. Programmable thermostats let you set a schedule for your heating and cooling so you’re not wasting energy when you’re not there.

According to ENERGY STAR, using a programmable thermostat can save you around $180 per year in energy costs.

Smart thermostats come with all the benefits of a programmable thermostat; plus, you can control them remotely using an app on your smartphone. Some smart thermostats can learn your energy habits, local weather patterns and comfort preferences over time to find your perfect sweet spot between comfort and energy savings.

🧑‍🔧 Energy Tip: Check out this video from your EPB Energy Pros to learn more about saving energy with smart thermostats.

8. Replace Your Older Windows With Energy-Efficient Windows

If sealing your windows isn’t enough to stop drafts, you might want to think about installing energy-efficient windows. Summer heat gain and winter heat loss through windows are to blame for about 25–30% of your heating and cooling energy costs, according to the DOE.

Although this is a bigger investment, it can really pay off by making your home more comfortable and lowering your energy bills. For more information, check out this guide on how to upgrade or replace inefficient windows.

🧑‍🔧Energy Tip: If you’re an EPB customer, you may be able to get back $15 for each energy-efficient window you install in your home. Learn more.

9. Add Insulation To Exterior Walls

Exterior walls are a key area where heat can escape or enter your home, making it harder for your HVAC system to maintain a consistent temperature. Hiring a professional to insulate these walls not only helps improve your energy efficiency to help you save money — it also enhances your comfort by blocking drafts, reducing noise and controlling moisture levels.

Types of Exterior Wall Insulation

Depending on your home’s structure and your specific needs, there are several insulation options for exterior walls:

• Blow-In Insulation: Ideal for existing homes, blow-in insulation can be added to exterior walls with minimal disruption. When installed using the dense pack technique, it provides a high R-value, effectively filling gaps and cavities in your walls without the need to open up finished areas.
• Spray Foam Insulation: This type of insulation works well in homes that are being remodeled where the walls are already exposed. Two-part spray foam or wet spray cellulose insulation can create a strong seal against air leaks and provide high insulation levels (R-values). If you’re not planning to open up your walls, injectable spray foam is another effective choice, allowing you to add insulation without major construction work.
• Blanket Insulation (Batts and Rolls): While not as effective at air sealing as spray foam, blanket insulation is a more affordable option for DIY projects. It’s less disruptive and can still provide decent insulation if installed properly.

🧑‍🔧Energy Tip: EPB customers can get $300 back for upgrading their wall insulation. See what qualifies.

11. Winterize Your Exterior Faucets

Exterior faucets can let cold air into your home during winter. If you live in a cold climate or an area that gets very cold during part of the year, remove your hoses and cover your outdoor faucets with insulated covers to prevent freezing and reduce drafts.

This step is affordable and easy to do yourself, and it can help protect your plumbing and improve your home’s energy efficiency.

12. Consider Adding Solar Panels That Use Sunlight To Generate Energy

ALT TEXT: A close-up of an installer placing a solar panel on a roof.

If you’re interested in renewable energy, recently replaced your roof, and have the funds for a bigger investment, you may want to consider a rooftop solar installation. By harnessing the power of the sun to generate energy, you can cut down on your carbon footprint while also lowering your energy bills.

Learn more about solar installations here.

🧑‍🔧Energy Tip: Are you an EPB customer and want to see if a solar installation is right for your home? Learn how to schedule a FREE Solar Energy Consultation with the EPB Energy Pros.

13. Maintain Your Cooling And Heating Systems

Do not overlook the importance of regular maintenance when it comes to your HVAC system. Most HVAC contractors offer plan options for seasonal HVAC service for a reasonable price, especially when you consider the long-term benefits.

Here are just a few of the benefits of hiring a professional to service your HVAC system a few times a year:

• Substantially extend the lifespan of your heating and cooling equipment.
• Help your HVAC system run optimally and more efficiently, increasing your comfort and energy efficiency.
• Clean, clear filters can help improve your indoor air quality.
• Prevent costly repairs to save money in the long run.

🧑‍🔧Energy Tip: Watch this video to learn more about the benefits of regular HVAC service. And if you’re an EPB customer, see how you can get $50 back for regular HVAC tune-ups.

14. Insulate Your Basement

Just like your attic, your basement can lose a lot of heat if it’s not properly insulated. Adding insulation to your basement walls can help keep the space dry and comfortable. Plus, it may increase your home’s resale value since it can help qualify your basement as a “conditioned space.” Learn more about basement insulation here.

15. Fill Holes In Your Sheetrock Or Exterior Walls

Holes and cracks in your exterior walls can be a major source of drafts, allowing cold air to enter your home during the winter and letting cool air escape in the summer. These gaps not only make your home less comfortable but also force your heating and cooling systems to work harder, leading to higher energy bills.

Fortunately, filling these gaps is a straightforward and cost-effective way to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

Identifying Problem Areas

Before you start filling holes and cracks, it’s important to identify where these gaps are located. Common areas where you might find holes and cracks include:

• Around Windows and Doors: Gaps often form around window and door frames, especially in older homes where the materials may have shifted or settled over time.
• Foundation Cracks: Cracks can develop in your home’s foundation, particularly near the corners or where the foundation meets the walls.
• Around Pipes and Vents: Any place where plumbing pipes, vents, or cables enter or exit your home can be a potential source of air leaks.
• Siding Gaps: If your home’s siding has gaps or has pulled away from the structure, these areas can allow air to pass through.

To identify these gaps, you can perform a visual inspection or use a flashlight to spot cracks. On a windy day, you can also feel for drafts by running your hand along potential problem areas.

Choosing the Right Materials

Once you’ve identified the holes and cracks in your exterior walls, the next step is to choose the right materials to seal them. Here are some common options:

• Caulk: Caulk is an excellent choice for sealing small cracks and gaps around windows, doors, and siding. It’s flexible and can expand and contract with temperature changes, ensuring a long-lasting seal.
  • There are different types of caulk available, including silicone, latex, and acrylic, each suited for different materials and weather conditions.
• Expanding Foam: For larger gaps or holes, expanding foam is a good option. This material expands as it cures, filling even irregularly shaped spaces. It’s particularly useful for filling gaps around pipes, vents, and in foundations.
• Weatherstripping: While typically used around doors and windows, weatherstripping can also be applied to seal small gaps in other areas of your exterior walls. It’s easy to install and can be adjusted as needed.

16. Use Window Quilts, Thick Drapes Or Thermal Curtains

If your windows are still letting in drafts even after sealing gaps and adding weatherstripping, window quilts and thermal curtains are excellent options to further insulate your home.

These insulating window treatments provide an extra layer of protection against temperature fluctuations, helping to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Just be sure to open your drapes on sunny winter days to let in sunlight for extra warmth.

🧑‍🔧Energy Tip: Watch this video to learn more about using curtains to improve your energy efficiency on hot summer days.

17. Strategically Plant Trees For Shade

Planting shade trees near your windows can help keep your home cool in the summer and block cold winds in the winter. Although it takes time for trees to grow, they can eventually lower your energy use and make your home more comfortable. The DOE recommends planting trees on the south and west sides of your home for the best results. Just be sure to plant the trees far enough away from your home so they won’t fall and cause damage during storms.

A good strategy for this is to research your tree’s maximum height at maturity and plant it at least that far away from your home.

• Seal gaps. Look for gaps around your fireplace or chimney and seal them with high-temperature caulk to prevent drafts.
• Use a glass fireplace cover. Install a tempered glass cover, or place a stand-up one in front of your fireplace, to block cold air when the fireplace is not in use. This adds insulation and can also enhance your fireplace’s appearance.

19. Upgrade Your Appliances

When it’s time to replace your appliances, look for energy-efficient models. ENERGY STAR-certified appliances use less energy, which can save you money and help protect the environment.

If you’re planning to upgrade your appliances proactively, consider prioritizing the most energy-demanding appliances first. Here’s a list of common appliances you can upgrade, starting with those that typically consume the most energy:

● Heating and Cooling Systems

● Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger

● Water Heater

● Refrigerator

● Clothes Washer and Dryer

● Dishwasher

● Oven and Stove

● Lighting

● Microwave

● Home Electronics

🧑‍🔧Energy Tip: EPB customers can get back thousands on home energy upgrades. See what qualifies.

The Impact of Weatherizing Your Home

By following these steps, you can make your home more energy efficient, comfortable and cost effective. Weatherizing your home not only helps maintain a consistent indoor temperature but also improves air quality and extends the life of your home and its appliances.

Plus, it can help increase your energy savings and help the planet. Remember, the first step to weatherizing your home is finding out which upgrades will help you the most.

If you’re an EPB customer, our EPB Energy Pros are happy to do this for free! Schedule a free EPB Home Energy CheckupSM to begin weatherizing your home for maximum comfort and savings.