Is your home energy efficient? Even in a well-insulated home, energy can be wasted through air infiltration. One-third to one-half of a typical fuel bill is the result of air penetration. Air can leak around your doors and windows, foundations, chimneys, exterior plumbing, or other parts of the structure. In the winter, air heated by your furnace is lost to the outside. In summer, hot outdoor air puts an additional load on your air conditioner.

Caulking seals joints and cracks in your home. Your goal when caulking is to cut down on drafts, making your house more energy efficient and comfortable. In addition, you want to close up places where water and insects can come through.

All caulking joints move somewhat, expanding and contracting in response to temperatures. Joints with different materials, such as masonry and wood, shift more than joints with the same materials. The ones that last the longest are those that are the most flexible and can endure a lot of movement.

Weatherizing your home by caulking can successfully cut down on energy waste. In fact, the cost of caulking is usually paid back in energy savings in about one or two years. This makes weatherizing one of your best investments in energy conservation. Weatherizing to limit air penetration also decreases drafts as well as noise and dust, making your home more comfortable.