What is weather stripping and why it is important:
Weather stripping is the process of sealing windows and doors, ensuring that your house is well protected from nature’s elements. Small gaps around the house are often neglected and hence, the house’s precious heating or cooling often escapes. A 1/8th inch gap between an exterior door and the threshold is equal to having a two-square-inch hole bored through the wall of the house. Sealing such gaps can help to save up to 15% of the energy spent on heating and cooling.
Weather stripping is not a complicated process and the entire house can be weather stripped in a day. Weather stripping windows is done in different ways depending upon the type of window. A casement window would require only one type of weather stripping while a double hung window would require two types of weather stripping.
How to weather strip a window:
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The first step of weather stripping a double hung window is to clean the bottom of the sash. This should be done with soap and water and left to dry.
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The foam weather stripping should be cut to length.
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The adhesive cover can be peeled away from the back of the strip and the adhesive side of the foam placed against the bottom of the sash to form a tight bond.
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The window jambs should be cleaned with soap and water.
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Once this is dry, two pieces of V-channel should be cut, which should be an inch longer than the height of the sash. The protective cover for the adhesive strip should be removed and the channel pressed firmly into the gap between the jamb and the sash stiles.
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To hold the weather stripping firmly, drive finish nails into the jamb to secure it. The sash should be tested to ensure that the window does not catch on the nails.
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Clean the bottom sash and place a V-channel weather stripping foam. The V-channel, when placed facing up, will allow the weather stripping to compress when the window is closed sealing it properly.
Casement windows are easier to weather strip. The first step is to clean the outside of the stops with soapy water. Once allowed to dry, self-adhesive foam should be cut and fitted at the top, bottom, and sides of the stop. These strips should be placed from the outside of the stops.
