Found 45 results for the keyword(s) ‘Drafts’

• Article

  Weatherstripping an old door.

  Gary from Toronto has a 75 year old door with copper V strip weather-stripping that doesn't stop much wind any more. What to do?Wooden outside doors tend to warp a bit with changes in the weather and with any direct sunlight on them, so you will probably find that the south facing door will warp...
• Article

  CAULKING & SEALING

  Caulking is actually a common name for what is properly called "sealants".Contrary to the recommendations of almost every handyman book from the US, do not caulk on the outside of the house except where necessary to keep rain, driving rain and blowing snow from penetrating into the wall. Any ...
• Article

  GUIDELINES FOR WEATHER-STRIPPING

  When weather-stripping can be applied in such a way as to compress between the frame and the moving door, window or trap, without any sliding action, it will seal better and last longer.-- Simple foam tape is quite effective for the attic trap if it is put on the frame and the trap falls flat ...
• Article

  ARE DOUBLE DOORS WORTH WHILE?

  Double doors, like double windows, can help a great deal to save heat, but first, two considerations:-- The tighter of the two doors (better weather-stripping, better door) must be on the inside when the doors are on the same frame as moisture must escape outward.-- Glass storm doors must not b...
• Article

  I'VE WEATHER-STRIPPED MY DOORS BUT THEY STILL LEAK. WHY?

  Doors warp with changes in climate, so good weather-stripping should be compressible to take into account small warp differences between day and night, and adjustable to take into account a larger warp movement that starts in the fall and returns in the spring.Doors, like windows, usually have ai...
• Article

  I'VE SEALED THE WINDOW AND THERE'S STILL A DRAFT. WHY?

  The space between the finished and rough frame of the window (hidden behind the window trim) is a major source of heat loss and hidden moisture damage inside walls. The trim should be sealed or removed and the gap filled and sealed if this was not done at the time of construction. Just stuffing...
• Article

  HOW CAN I ELIMINATE AIR LEAKS THROUGH WINDOWS?

  Air leaks through the moving parts of windows accounts for as much as 14 per cent of the heat loss in a typical Canadian house. Picking the right kind of windows can certainly help:-- Fixed windows with no moving parts can be completely sealed. -- Fixed window panes with small moveable section...
• Article

  HOW DO I FIND AIR LEAKS?

  First, the fancy way: infrared photography can identify temperature changes on different parts of the house, and thus heat losses. With proper interpretation of the photograph you can know which heat losses are caused by air leaks and which by missing or soaked insulation. This is like an X-ra...
• Article

  WON'T A COLD-AIR INLET MAKE MY HOUSEHOLD AIR TOO DRY?

  Yes -- if the cold-air input is uncontrolled. In fact, uncontrolled cold-air drafts are the reason for dryness in older houses. Damper control of the cold-air intake (not the hot-air exhaust) will allow you to maintain whatever level of humidity you want.If your furnace combustion air is provid...
• Article

  Overview: To HRV-ERV or not to HRV-ERV

  I am always amazed at house construction where so often things are half built or more while people are running around beginning to think about "extras" that should never be though of as "extras" but as part of the essential system. So time for one of my lectures -- (you asked for it).Heating is o...