Welcome to Homedepot.com. I am Jessica and today I am going to demonstrate how to seal your windows and doors. It is an easy project that nearly anyone can tackle. You might be asking, why do I need to seal my windows. Think of it this way, if you adopt all the gaps and cracks on the average house, it is the equivalent of leaving a window wide open.
In fact air leaking through tiny holes and cracks accounts for up to 20% of the energy use to heat and cool a typical home. Sealing your home can cut your energy expenses by a hundreds of dollars every year. So you let us get started.
Here is a quick listed tool you will need. Start with a premium caulk like Dap Dynaflex 3.0 or GE silicon to window and door. You will also need a caulk gun, caulk remover, rubbing alcohol, a clean cloth, a caulk tooling device, sharp razor edges and mineral spirits.
You can pick up all these tools that your local home depot. One other point, if you are using a premium sealant, I recommend a drip less high and caulk gun like this. It makes application easier and you will better results.
But first question you might be asking is, how do I determine where I need to seal?
Try this trick, use lighted incense sticks or a candle to locate the source of leaks. Air drops will cause the plume of smoke to flow in the direction of air leakage or you can just use your damped hand to feel the drops of air. Inspect all windows and doors to ensure that they sit snag in their frames. Once you have located the gaps and cracks, you are ready for the next steps.
Start by removing the existing caulk with a patty knife. If you have a latex caulk, you can start in the caulk with a caulk remover. Next, clean the surface with rubbing alcohol or house hold cleaner and wipe with a clean cloth. Make sure the surface is clean dry and free of dirt and dust. Now, remove the cap and cut the nozzle out of 45 degree angle to the desired bid size. Pierce the inner seal with a stiff wire or similar object. Insert the cartridge into a caulk gun then begin to push the caulk out of the tube. Immediately use the tooling device to smooth the sealant. Use mineral spirits for proper clean up and allow the sealant to dry for the products recommended time and you are done. It is that quick and easy.
For more Know How projects visit us at homedepot.com/knowhow or stop by your local home depot and ask any associate for assistance.
Thanks for watching and we will see you next time.
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