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DIY - Home Maintenance and Upgrade Projects

Showing 13 results:

Windows and Doors

DIY Guide:

Add Weatherstrip to Windows and Doors

Install weatherstripping around the perimeter of door frames
Add weatherstrip to windows and doors that open to the outdoors or unconditioned spaces like attics and basements to decrease air leakage and heating and cooling losses.
DIY Guide:

Air Seal and Insulate Window Rough Openings

Home Upgrades: Air Seal and Insulate Window Rough Openings
Air seal the rough opening around windows and doors prior to installing trim to minimize air leakage.
DIY Guide:

Air Seal and Insulate Wood Single-Pane Windows

Air seal and insulate around old wooden windows to remove or renovate pocket weights, decrease heating and cooling losses, and make your home more comfortable.
Air seal and insulate around old wooden windows to remove or renovate pocket weights, decrease heating and cooling losses, and make your home more comfortable.
DIY Guide:

Clean Window Weep Holes

Cleaning window weep holes helps to ensure proper window drainage, preventing water damage in the wall.
Cleaning window weep holes helps to ensure proper window drainage, preventing water damage in the wall.
DIY Guide:

Install Cellular Blinds

Cellular blinds provide privacy, style, shade, and heating and cooling energy savings to your home.
Installing cellular blinds on your windows can provide privacy, shade, and style while reducing cooling and heating energy costs, improving comfort, and increasing a home’s resistance to extreme heat events.
DIY Guide:

Install Exterior Storm Windows

Using storm windows can increase your home’s energy efficiency, reduce drafts and glare, block out outside noise, and make your home feel more comfortable.
Using storm windows can increase your home’s energy efficiency, reduce drafts and glare, block out outside noise, and make your home feel more comfortable.
DIY Guide:

Install Interior Storm Windows

Modern interior storm windows include new technology and sleek design features that offer an easy-to-install, cost-effective method for upgrading the energy efficiency of existing windows.
Using storm windows can increase your home’s energy efficiency, reduce drafts and glare, block out outside noise, and make your home feel more comfortable.
DIY Guide:

Install or Replace Door Sweeps

Doors to individual units in a multifamily building are separated from corridors using weatherstripping and airtight door sweeps.
Door sweeps are a type of metal weatherstripping that is installed at the bottom of exterior doors to prevent air infiltration, reduce drafts, increase the durability of the door, and reduce pest intrusion.
DIY Guide:

Insulate and Weatherstrip a Garage Door

Garage doors can get a lot of exposure to the elements.
Install garage door insulation to help maintain moderate temperatures in your garage.

Attic

DIY Guide:

Air Seal and Insulate Attic Access

Openings used for access to the attic such as access panels, doors into knee walls, or dropdown stairs should be air-sealed and insulated. 
Openings used for access to the attic such as access panels, doors into knee walls, or dropdown stairs should be air-sealed and insulated.
DIY Guide:

Air Seal Flue Shafts and Chimneys in Attic

Furnace and chimney flues often have large gaps around them that allow air leakage from the home into the attic . (Source: Family Handyman)
Use heat-resistant caulk and sheet metal to air seal flues and chimneys in the attic.
DIY Guide:

Look For and Install Attic Vent Baffles

Look at the attic to make sure there are baffles in place at soffit vents to keep wind from blowing insulation; if they are missing install them.
Look at the attic to make sure there are baffles in place at soffit vents to keep wind from blowing insulation; if they are missing install them.
DIY Guide:

Look for Missing Insulation Using Thermal Imaging

Looking at your home with an infrared (IR) camera can reveal missing insulation and air leakage.
Looking at your home with an infrared (IR) camera can reveal missing insulation and air leakage.