The cost of heating and cooling your home makes up the largest portion of your electric bill. That’s why your energy costs typically go up during hot summer months and the occasional cold snap. When there’s a great difference between the temperature inside and the temperature outside, you consume more energy to keep your home comfortable.

The costs can be even more taxing if your home is not properly sealed. Air leaks around your home can allow your air (and energy dollars) to escape. A cheap and fairly easy fix is to seal any air leaks with caulk.

What is caulk?

Caulk is a waterproof filler or sealant that can be worked into nooks and crannies to stop unwanted air leaks. It’s ideal for cracks less than ¼ inches wide. Caulk also works best on areas that are stationary. (For cracks along building components that move, such as windows and doors, weatherstripping is the recommended material.)

For the most part, caulk comes in disposable cartridges that fit inside a caulking gun. However, there are some cartridges that are pressurized and can be used without a caulking gun. An average tube of caulk will cost you approximately $2 and a caulking gun can be purchased for about $5 to $10.

Tips to apply caulk

• Try for optimal weather. Caulk adheres best at temperatures above 45°F and in low humidity conditions.
• Make sure you clean the area to be caulked first so you’ll have good adhesion. Remove old paint or caulk from the area with a putty knife and wipe the area down. Wait for the area to fully dry before you begin applying caulk. (You don’t want to seal in moisture.)
• Hold the caulking gun at a 45 degree angle to force the caulk directly into the crack as it comes out of the tube.
• Avoid stopping and starting. Try to caulk in a straight, continuous line.
• Make sure the caulk gets to the bottom of the crack by forcing it down with your finger, a spoon or a foam paintbrush.  
• Release the trigger before you pull the gun away from the crack. Otherwise, you may apply too much caulk to the area.
• If caulk oozes from the opening, go back with a putty knife to push in back in.
• If the caulk shrinks, go back and apply some more. It’s best to make sure the crack is sealed completely.
• Clean up messes or excess caulk with a damp rag. Dried caulk is much harder to remove, so it’s important to take care of problem areas promptly.