An easy way to save on energy costs

Special to The Canadian

NC -- During both heating and air conditioning periods, air leaks cost you more than you may think. In fact, you could save as much as 30% off your energy bill by making your home's envelope more airtight through the use of weatherstripping.

In addition to reducing your energy consumption, the installation of weatherstripping increases the comfort of your home, provides better protection to the building's framework, reduces outside noise and dust as well as greenhouse gas emissions, which are directly related to the phenomenon of climate change. Where are the air leaks?

Air can leak from a number of places throughout the house. As a rule, sources of air leaks are:

-- Doors: frame, sides, bottom and threshold;

-- Windows and patio doors;

-- Garage;

-- Air conditioner and air vents;

-- Electrical outlets and switches;

-- Hatches and ceiling lights;

-- Joints between baseboards and floors; and

-- Unsealed wall openings and cracks.

Your hardware store or renovation centre carries weatherstripping adapted to each of these sources. You would do well to install weatherstripping before winter, since its installation will be easier and more efficient before the cold hits. How to detect air leaks?

To detect air leaks in your home, you could hire a contractor or opt for a simple, yet effective method: do the job yourself using the flicker test. This test consists in slowly moving a smoke pen where air leaks are most likely to be, that is, around doors and windows as well as along the edge of walls, floors and ceilings. The smoke will stir when an air leak is present.

An indispensable tool, the Comfort Plus smoke pen makes it possible to detect air leaks quickly and efficiently. "Unlike a candle or incense stick, the smoke pen not only avoids possible wax or ash messes, but is much safer," said François Gagné of RCR International inc., a recognized pioneer in the insulation of doors and windows. "It releases a steady stream of smoke for approximately 30 minutes, allowing you to conduct 60 thirty-second smoke tests. It contains no hazardous or corrosive substances."

The smoke pen is an efficient tool for detecting air leaks as well as for testing smoke detectors, ventilation systems, fireplaces and chimneys.

You will be surprised by how many places need to be sealed. Often, tiny, seemingly innocuous openings can cause significant increases in energy costs.

As well, check the quality and flexibility of weatherstripping around door and window frames. Replace it when it shows signs of wear using an appropriate product. To check the air tightness of your garage door, turn on the light at night or use a flashlight, then close the door and inspect it from the outside. If you spot light around the door, you've got air leaks.

For a healthy environment

These small measures will make it possible for you to reduce your energy consumption and, by the same token, your costs while ensuring the comfort of your home. And remember, it's the sum total of all our individual actions, as modest as they might be, that yields impressive results on a collective scale. More information on how to detect and eliminate air leaks can be found at rcint.com.

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