Do you know your caulk basics? When it comes to preparing your Northeast Ohio home for winter, using caulk to air seal your home is an important step. However, not all caulking compounds are created equal.
Choosing the right caulk for the building materials and area you want to seal is essential to creating a well-sealed home that will reduce your home energy bills all year round. To navigate the many different sealing compounds available in stores, we have put together this brief caulking overview:
Silicone
Silicone caulking compounds are separated into two types: household and construction. Both are flexible and easy to clean up. Use household silicone in your kitchen and bathroom to seal the joints between tiles and fixtures. Use construction silicone to seal dissimilar materials such as wood, brick, stone and metal flashing.
Polyurethane, Expandable Spray Foam
If you already have a handle on caulk basics and sealing the air leaks in your home, you are probably already familiar with spray foam. This compound is great for sealing the larger and more irregular gaps both indoors and out. This excellent adhesive quickly expands while drying. Use it in areas where friction isn’t a factor.
Water-Based Foam Sealant
Best used in newly constructed spaces or retrofits, water-based foam sealant is great for sealing the areas around your window and door frames. It is non-toxic and good for the environment as it doesn’t produce greenhouse gas byproducts. It will need exposure to air in order to completely dry.
Butyl Rubber
This highly durable compound can last 10 years or more and is an excellent choice for outdoor sealing. Use it to seal and join dissimilar materials like wood, plastic, glass, metal, and concrete. Additionally, it can be used for bonding any loose rooftop shingles and for sealing around metal flashing and window frames.
To go beyond our caulk basics and learn more about proper air sealing techniques, or to find out about other effective HVAC weatherizing products and solutions, please contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. Our trained technicians are proud to serve homeowners in Lorain, Erie and Cuyahoga counties.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about caulking and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area