Weatherize for the Cold Season

Action of the Month for October

Basic Action - Weatherize windows and doors to seal air leaks
On a chilly day, check around each window and external door in your residence to see if cold air is seeping in. If you see daylight where it meets the frame, or feel cold air coming in, weatherize those windows and external doors to stop air leaks. Losses due to air leaks are like leaving a window open.

• Caulk stationary windows that do not open.
• Weatherstrip windows that do open.
• For external doors, weatherstrip door tops and sides and/or add a door sweep at the bottom.

 
Find out more about weather stripping. (Source: energy.gov)
Find out more about installing weather stripping. (Source: familyhandyman.com)
 
Check with your home store or a professional about caulk, weatherstripping, and door sweep products to use. If you are a renter and find your door needs weatherstripping, contact your property owner or property manager to ask them to seal the leaks around your door(s). Or perhaps you can take care of it yourself.

Weatherizing windows and external doors provides you these benefits:

• saves energy
• saves money spent on utility bills
• keeps your home temperature more comfortable

​Advanced Actions
Choose from these if your windows and doors are already weatherized.

• Seal large air leaks near ducts, vents, electrical outlets, chimneys, recessed light fixtures, attic entrances, fans, plumbing utilities, water and furnace flues, and/or other seams or openings.
• Improve or replace windows. If you have any double pane windows that have lost their seal, those should be replaced by another double pane or triple pane window.
• Seal and insulate ducts and add or improve attic insulation. Insulation that is damp or soiled should be replaced. Insulating attic space has more impact than insulating walls because heat rises.
• Contact a professional to properly seal and ventilate your home.
• If you are  Montana NorthWestern Energy (NWE) customer and your home has not had an energy assessment by NWE, you can ask the company about their virtual and free E+ Home EnergyCheck using your smartphone or tablet to give their local energy specialist a virtual tour of your home. This can give you (1) personalized tips to improve your energy efficiency; (2) free energy-reducing products, if needed, delivered to your home; and (3) important safety information about gas and electric. Call (800) 823-5995 or visit NorthWesternEnergy.com/EnergyCheck.

 
DID YOU KNOW…
You can prioritize advanced actions by started with these:

• those that are low-cost
• those that will generate quick energy savings
• those that will generate large energy savings

NorthWestern Energy (NWE) customers should check on their rebate programs for 

• Natural Gas customers for insulation
• Electric customers for home duct sealing and exterior wall insulation

 
Some content adapted with permission from materials produced
by Earth Care for Hoosier-IPL www.EarthCareIndiana.org