You're looking for discolored, cracked or otherwise deteriorating caulk. Two important areas to check are your basement and the area around your windows. Both of these spots can leak a lot of heat, especially during the colder months of the year.
Angie's How To Learn How to Apply Caulk
Difficulty:
Time: 15 Minutes
Caulk may seem like something only professional contractors deal with, but it's actually inexpensive and extremely simple to use. By sealing areas around your house such as the attic, basement, windows and exterior siding, you can save as much as 30 percent on your utility bill. Best of all, a tube of caulk only costs about $4 at your local hardware store.
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Tools & Materials Needed
putty knife or scraper
tube of caulk
caulk gun
plastic spoon or popsicle stick
1 Take a quick walk through your house, checking for places that need a caulk refresh.
2 Remove any old or damaged caulk ...
...with your putty knife or scraper.
3 Load the tube into your caulking gun...
... using the instructions on the gun package. Once it's properly loaded, cut off the tip of the caulk tube.
4Apply the caulk at a measured pace along the cracks in your window's seal...
...pushing the caulking tub into the crack. Be smooth and use consistent, light pressure. You want your caulk to be applied in one continuous line.
5Smooth the caulk with a plastic spoon.
Keep the spoon, drinking straw or popsicle stick wet to keep the caulk from tearing.
6 Let the caulk dry completely...
...before you cover it with anything (such as insulation).