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Simple Projects to Winterize a Drafty Home Over a Weekend

Save on energy costs and keep your home heated this winter with products from the Duck® brand

AVON, Ohio (August 25, 2009) – Ever wonder where that draft of cold air is coming from? Or why the heat seems to be kicking on more than usual in the winter? It may be from the cracks and gaps in your home that are commonly found around windows, doors, electrical switches and plumbing.

With a little time spent over one weekend, cracks and gaps around the home can be properly sealed. The following products offered by the Duck brand could help take the stress out of opening the heating bill during the winter months:

  • Window kits – a practically invisible way to conserve energy and decrease home heating costs. They are available for indoor and outdoor use and come in a variety of sizes.  Duck® brand Roll-On® Window Kits are easy to install, require no measuring and fit snugly to your window frame, providing an airtight seal.
  • Foam socket sealers – this simple solution could save you money on your energy bill.  Believe it or not, this area is a big source of heat loss in the winter. In order to reduce energy loss, simply remove the plastic plate cover and slip a foam sealer inside the plate cover and reattach. This can help reduce the amount of cold air coming into the house, while preventing the warm air from escaping.
  • Weatherstrip seals – When determining the right seal, it’s important to consider what material and profile is best for the job.  The Duck brand offers both foam and rubber solutions to stop drafts. 
  • Pipe insulation – A large portion of home energy consumption goes to heating water.  Insulating your pipes is a great way to reduce energy loss.  Duck brand Pipe Wrap Insulation is made of plastic fiber and works the same as fiberglass insulation, without the itch and irritation.

Here are some helpful tips for locating gaps and cracks around the home: To check for problem areas that need to be properly sealed, have a person stand outside after dark and shine a strong flashlight around the edges of doors and windows.

  • With the lights turned off inside the house, take note of where the light is shining through to narrow down areas where cold air is entering the home and warm air is escaping.
  • Next, you can try to slide a sheet of thin cardboard under a closed door. If the cardboard slides under, the gap is large enough for cold air to enter and heat to escape. Finally, utilize incense to check for cracks and gaps and other points of entry. Look for areas that cause the smoke from the incense to be blown by incoming air or escape through cracks. By doing one of these three experiments, you will be able to pinpoint areas of the home in need of winterization.

Click here for more information, tips and product suggestions to help winterize your home.

DUCK BRAND
The Duck brand offers an array of tapes, packaging supplies and home products that provide simple, imaginative and helpful solutions for a variety of tasks around the home, school and office. Visit http://www.duckproducts.com/ for additional product information.

SHURTECH BRANDS
ShurTech Brands, LLC, markets do-it-yourself tapes, office and housewares products under the Duck®, Painter’s Mate Green®, Frog Tape™ and Easy Liner® brands. The company is a subsidiary of Shurtape Technologies, LLC, Hickory, N.C., an industry-leading producer of pressure sensitive masking, duct, packaging and specialty tape products, with facilities in the United States, Canada, Germany, Mexico, Peru, United Arab Emirates and China. Shurtape services numerous markets, including industrial, packaging, HVAC, professional paint, auto, marine, aerospace, arts and entertainment, and retail. Shurtape also manufactures and markets the Shurtape™ and Kip™ brands. Visit www.shurtech.com for more information.