There's a lot to be said for having the wind at your back – unless, of course, you're standing in your home and realize that the wind is coming from a drafty window.

Consider it a wake-up call to weatherize your home – a two-step process that requires applying caulk and weather-stripping to problem spots before First Quality Roofing & Insulation makes your home airtight with insulation. Spring is the ideal time for such a project, before summer arrives and the hot, outdoor air descends on Las Vegas and wreaks havoc with your utility bills.

Scour your home for air leaks

If your home is like many others in the United States, you could be losing as much as 25 percent of the energy you pay for every month. In fact, windows, walls, doors and the roof – which represent a home's “envelope” – usually are the draftiest spots in any home. As the U.S. Department of Energy puts it: “If you added up all the leaks, holes and gaps in a typical home's envelope, it would be the equivalent of having a window open every day of the year.” 

Before you rush to weatherize your home's envelope to save money, it helps to have a plan. Call it a “whole-house plan,” if you wish, because there are many other spots you should check for air leaks, too, including the:

• Attic hatch
• Baseboards
• Cable TV and phone lines
• Ducts
• Electrical outlets
• Fireplace damper
• Furnace
• Recessed lighting fixtures
• Skylights
• Soffits over cabinets
• Switch plates
• Vents and fans (including your dryer vent)
• Wall- or window-mounted air conditioners

And these are just indoor trouble spots. If you're feeling ambitious, you might search for cracks, gaps and holes outdoors, and especially around the:

• Chimney
• Foundation, especially where it abuts brick, stone or siding
• Garage
• Places where two different building materials abut one another

Weatherize with gusto and save money

Once you've identified a problem spot:

• Apply caulk to spots that are less than 1/2-inch wide, but remove any old or damaged caulk first.  
• Apply weather-stripping to movable parts.  
• Replace door bottoms and thresholds with those that have pliable sealing gaskets.
• Place foam gaskets behind outlets and switch plates.

Sealing air leaks will make your indoor air more comfortable and help you save money on your utility bills. Your efforts also will:

• Contribute to better humidity control
• Block dust, pollen and insects from entering your home
• Blunt outdoor noise

You'll notice the benefits – as long as you're not in too much of a hurry to achieve them. Plugging air leaks is often not a one-weekend job, and you may need an extra pair of hands to get the job done right before calling First Quality Roofing & Insulation to install insulation. 

Take it from the department of energy: “Improving your home’s insulation and sealing air leaks are the fastest and most cost-effective ways to reduce energy waste and make the most of your energy dollars. Be sure to seal air leaks before you insulate because insulating materials won’t block leaks” – or that drafty gust of wind on your back.

Contact First Quality Roofing & Insulation at 702-262-7847 to schedule your insulation evaluation.