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With energy bills soaring and incomes shrinking, saving money on your home\u2019s heating and cooling
\nbills takes on new importance. Not only does sealing cracks, crevices and gaps around your home save
\nmoney, it helps make the indoor environment more pleasant and comfortable. Even if your home is
\nwell insulated otherwise, small imperfections around pipes, vents, windows and doors can cause energy
\nleakage that impacts your household bottom line. Filling the gaps to prevent energy leakage, along with its energy saving benefits, will make your home more comfortable as well.<\/p>\n
Since the bulk of energy loss comes from those small holes, cracks and gaps, it only makes sense to seal
\noff those areas with a substance that will permanently (or nearly so) stop the problem. This is where
\nspray insulation, such as Touch \u2018n Foam, Great Stuff and 3M 78 Polystyrene Foam come in. These should
\nbe available at most home improvement and hardware stores.<\/p>\n
Finding the Leaks<\/p>\n
Before you buy any products to seal the leaks, walk around your house to determine just what you\u2019re
\ndealing with. Certain leaks may require a more expansive foam, while others may only require enough
\nexpansion to fill a tiny gap. You\u2019ll want to be sure to use the proper product for each area.<\/p>\n
An obvious way to find a leak is to feel air moving. In the living space, this is usually the easiest way to
\nidentify leaks around windows, doors, baseboards and electrical sockets. In the basement, look around
\ndryer and heating vent penetrations, wall cracks, areas where basement walls meet the ceiling, around
\npipes, etc. Outside, look around dryer vents, gas and electric utility penetrations, the bottom of your
\nsiding where it meets the foundation, etc. If you have a garage attached to your house, look for similar
\nareas as the basement.<\/p>\n
How to Fill the Gaps<\/p>\n
Once you know what you\u2019re dealing with, you\u2019ll be better informed as to what foam insulating products
\nyou\u2019ll need to tackle your gap issues. Foams that have a \u201cmaximum\u201d expansion will grow significantly
\nfrom what comes out of the can. These are perfect for bigger areas that need a lot of coverage. Other
\nproducts do a similar job, but with less expanding capability, which means they won\u2019t displace pipes or
\ndoorframes \u2013 or be wasteful.<\/p>\n
A Quick Note on Insulating Doors and Windows<\/p>\n
Nothing is worse than insulating a drafty door and having the foam displace the frame making the door
\nharder to open and close. Using a low expansion foam specifically formulated for doors and windows
\nsolves this problem. These products seal the cracks without expanding so much that the frames move.<\/p>\n
Environmentally Friendly Solutions<\/p>\n
One thing to note \u2013 some products are made with environmentally friendly ingredients. The Touch \u2018n
\nFoam MaxFill Maximum Expanding Foam Sealant is one of them. It doesn\u2019t use the petroleum-based raw
\nmaterials found in other foams, so it\u2019s worth a read of the label to determine if you\u2019re helping or hurting
\nthe environment as you insulate your home.<\/p>\n
Videos to Show You How<\/p>\n