Caulking Saves on Energy Bills

If you add all the space created by the cracks and crevices letting air in your house, on average you're dealing with the space equal to a two-foot-square open window!

No wonder caulking can save you about five percent on your energy bills, winter and summer. And the best news is that caulking is an inexpensive, easy and effective do-it-yourself project.

You'll make your house warmer in winter, cooler in summer and more resistant to moisture and insects all year. You can buy an open-sided, friction-driven caulk gun for about $10, and a good grade of caulk for about $5 per tube. Each tube provides enough caulk to seal three to four windows or doors.

Before you begin, remove old caulk with a chisel or screwdriver. Get rid of loose paint and dirt with a wire brush, and wipe away oils with a rag soaked in mineral spirits.

The width of the bead, or line of caulk, is controlled by how you cut the tube's tapered spout. Make the opening slightly smaller than your intended bead, which should be from 1/4 to 3/4 inches wide. If you're going to pull the spout along the joint, cut the spout at a 45 degree angle. But if you want to push the caulk in place, shape the spout with two 45 degree cuts. Both methods are effective as long as you force the caulk well into the crack so it adheres to two sides and back.

Caulk all joints where siding butts corner boards, openings and masonry. Remember thresholds, too. Cold air even enters your home around interior baseboards. Pay special attention to dryer vents, electrical and cable TV wires and pipes. You can buy expanding foams and special putties to fill in extra large gaps, and extension tubes for caulking the hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.

Whether you push or pull the caulk in place is unimportant. Your goal is simple--to fill the gap and leave a neat bead of caulk along the surface.