Though you may not notice, you're may be throwing dollars right out your doors and windows. Even if you're not walking over to the window and tossing the green out, warmed and cooled air could be seeping through cracks in your windows and doors ? the equivalent of losing a serious chunk of change. So what do you do about it? There are some steps you can take to be sure you're doing your best to be energy efficient.



Start by looking for the cracks. It's probably easier than you think. Wait for a dark night, turn on your inside light and stand outside your door. Do you see light? If light can escape, chances are your warm or cool air can also escape. Make a careful note of where those cracks appear and head to the hardware store. You'll find there are a number of weather stripping kits to help you seal up those cracks and crevices.

The bottom of the door is a notorious spot for air exchange. If you have an older door, the weather stripping at the bottom may be worn out or simply non-existent. It's fairly easy to install a new weather strip and this may represent a significant savings in your energy bill.

The light trick is a good way to check doors, but how are you going to test for air leaks at the windows? One way is to wait for a windy day and carefully feel all around your window. If you have light curtains, you may even be able to see the breeze ruffle the curtains. A candle flame can also be a good indicator. Hold a candle at various spots around the perimeter of the window, being sure to stay clear of curtains and other material. If there's a breeze coming in through the window frame, the flame of the candle will flicker.

Again, weather stripping is a good first step toward lessening the impact of air exchange. Don't overlook the potential for caulking. You can get caulk in several forms and almost anyone can use a caulking gun. If you have some obvious cracks and crevices around doors and windows, fill them up.

If you're serious about tracing down the air leaks in your home, you can always hire a professional to test. They have ways to determine where the majority of your air is going and can advise you on how to stop it.

At the end of all the checking, there's simply no substitute for quality, energy-efficient doors and windows. With the current demand for these products, you'll find an incredible array of styles and features, most at very affordable prices. If you consider the cost of cooling and heating that air that is flowing right through the drafty door facing, you may find that you can't afford to go through another season without taking steps to rectify the situation.