Seal and save
Caulking around windows and doors is an easy do-it-yourself job that can be accomplished in an afternoon.
Did you know heating and cooling accounts for roughly half of your home’s energy use? Caulking cracks and gaps around windows, doors, and the spaces around wires (telephone and cable), gas lines, water spigots and dryer vents can pay off with big energy savings.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a small investment in caulk and caulking supplies could cut your monthly energy bill by 5 to 10 percent. Best of all, caulking is an easy do-it-yourself job that can be accomplished in an afternoon.
You’ll need caulk, a caulk gun, a utility knife, rags and water.
Weatherproof silicone caulk, available at hardware stores and home improvement centers, is usually the best choice for sealing gaps around windows and doors and for filling in gaps that are less than one-quarter-inch wide.
Prep
Clean the area where you will be applying the caulk. Remove any dirt, loose paint or old, cracked caulk. Be sure the area is dry before applying new caulk appropriate for your application.
Load
Puncture the seal on your new tube of caulk. Slice off the plastic tip at an angle, starting with a small opening. You can always make the hole larger if necessary, but never smaller.
You will need to pull the plunger all the way back to load the tube of caulk into the barrel of the caulking gun. Next, squeeze the trigger a few times until the plunger makes contact with the tube. Squeeze once or twice more to fill the tip with caulk.
Apply
To figure out the right amount of caulk needed, experiment with an out-of-the-way section. You may find that you need less caulk than you thought.
Hold the gun at a slight angle. Apply steady pressure on the trigger to create a solid stream from the tip, which should be placed a half‑inch or less from the intended destination of the material.
Use just enough caulk to do the job. Use your finger to gently press the caulk into the corner, crack or space.
Release
Once the trigger is fully depressed, allow it to spring back, and depress it again. Keep the gun moving while caulk is still coming out of the tip.
Clean
Use a damp cloth or rag to clean off most of the excess caulk. Use a dry cloth to clean off the rest.