Winter is truly upon us here in South Jersey. A cold wind blows outside, and it promises to get even colder before the spring. And in this season of Thanksgiving, I have nothing but gratitude for one home improvement in particular:

Weather stripping.

Now, last month we spoke about new window installations (if you missed it, check it out below), and how they can help to prevent some of those nastier drafts and improve your home's energy efficiency. But weather stripping can do some heavy lifting in those categories as well; and the best news is how inexpensive it can be!

But how do we even know if your home needs some new weatherstripping? How do we know this isn’t like that time my cousin Phil the car salesman sold me on getting the undercoating?Fortunately, there are a few tests you may want to conduct to determine if weather stripping needs to be installed on any given door or window. If you have a lab coat and goggles, this is the perfect excuse to wear them: it's SCIENCE time!

The first one requires a flashlight and a lab assistant. Wait until its nice and dark outside, and go outside with the flashlight. Close the door, and shine a light all around the perimeter of the door. If your friend can see a light coming through anywhere, then thats a spot that has an insufficient seal and needs some attention.

If you're more of a lone wolf, or just not a fan of the dark, then the moisture test may work best for you. This one is great during the winter, but may not be as effective during the summer months. Just damp your hand with a little bit of water and feel your way around the edge of the door or window. That moisture is going to increase your sensitivity to the cold, and any cold spots you feel indicate a point at which air from the outside can come in.

Another good test is to place a dollar bill between your door and the jamb, and then close the door. Take hold of the bill and try to pull it out again (gently!). If it slides out easy, then you may want to think about weather stripping (Please be advised that should you tear the bill in half, this does not mean you have doubled your money; the bank manager was very clear on that point).

Once you have conducted your testing (or have had a Bright Star Handyman do it for you), there are a number of different kinds of weather stripping, each with it's own strengths.

First, there's the door sweep. This is the weather stripping you will see at the base of a door; especially doors that lead to the outside. Typically this will be a plastic or metalic strip screwed in to the door, with a brush or a piece of nylon.

We also have the option of a magnetic weatherstripping solution; this one you are likely already familiar with because it's a LOT like what you see on your refrigerator door. This can be a bit more on the pricey side of things, but is a great option for your windows that provides a dependable air seal.

Another option for windows or sliding glass doors is a fin seal. These are durable, if a bit tricky to install (That is, unless you call us to handle it for you!).

Next we have V-seal, likely the most frequently seen weatherstripping in the majority of homes. This can be put around windows and door frames and might be nailed in or installed with adhesive. Usually this is a good durable option for weatherstripping.

If you are looking for an inexpensive material to block those drafts (and waterproofing isn't a concern), you can always opt for felt or foam tape. Sometimes this comes with a metalic strip for reinforcement, and blocks air by being compressed by the closing of the door.

Then of course there's rubber tubing, which is just what it says on the box: a tube made of rubber, attatched with adhesive. This is the option to go with if you are concerned about waterproofing.

You can read more about it by checking out this blog on Constellation.

A last thing to consider is outlet gaskets. An oft overlooked area that can be the source of air leakage are the plates around your outlets. This is an issue we can rectify by installing foam gaskets behind the plates.

Sealing these gaps can make your home even cozier, and can result in energy savings up to 15%. That's a sizable return on just a little investment. Plus, having a warm and toasty home helps us remember to be thankful for the treasures we have: eachother. And a lab coat.

I’m going to have to end it there; I just got a call from Betty down the road, seems her brother’s kids were visiting, got a bit rowdy, and busted a hole in her wall. A handyman’s job is never done!

And if you have any walls that Betty’s nephews have demolished, contact me here. Repairing their damage has become something of a specialty of mine.