How to Stop Drafts: Caulking and Weatherstripping Basics

Drafts are leaking money — sealing them is one of the cheapest ways to cut a heating bill. The routine is four steps: find the leaks, caulk the gaps around windows and trim, add weatherstripping to doors, and put foam gaskets behind outlets on exterior walls. A weekend of sealing can noticeably lower what you pay to heat and cool the house.

How do I find air leaks in my house?

Use your hand or a candle. On a windy day, slowly move your hand — or hold a lit candle or incense stick — near the edges of windows, doors, outlets, and where pipes enter the wall. A draft on your skin, or a flickering, dancing flame, marks a leak. Work room by room and note every spot. The U.S. Department of Energy's air-sealing guidance is a great reference for where leaks hide.

Where should I caulk?

Caulk seals the small, fixed gaps — around window frames, door trim, baseboards, and where two materials meet. Run a thin, smooth, even bead of caulk into the crack and tool it flat with a wet finger. Use exterior-grade caulk outside and paintable caulk where it'll show. It's cheap, fast, and one of the highest-return home jobs there is.

What's the difference between caulk and weatherstripping?

Caulk seals gaps that don't move; weatherstripping seals gaps around things that do move — mainly doors and operable windows. Add adhesive foam or rubber weatherstripping around a door frame, and a door sweep along the bottom to close the gap to the threshold. If you can see daylight under your front door, a sweep will pay for itself fast.

Do electrical outlets really leak air?

Yes — outlets and switches on exterior walls are a surprising source of drafts, because the wall cavity behind them connects to the outside. Inexpensive foam gaskets install in minutes: shut off the circuit, unscrew the cover plate, slip the foam gasket over the outlet, and screw the cover back on. It's a tiny job that closes dozens of little leaks across a house.

Build a weatherproofing checklist

Air sealing is most effective when you do the whole house, not one window. Keep a checklist of which rooms and openings you've sealed, and revisit it each fall before the cold sets in. Okoniq Property Hub stores your weatherproofing checklist in one private place in your browser, alongside your utility bills so you can watch the savings show up — and the rest of your home maintenance records.

Frequently asked questions

How much can sealing drafts save me?

The Department of Energy estimates households can save roughly 10–15% on heating and cooling by air-sealing and adding insulation. Exact savings depend on your home and climate.

When is the best time to weatherproof?

Early fall, before heating season. You'll seal leaks while the weather is mild and feel the benefit all winter.

Caulk or weatherstrip — which first?

Find leaks first, then caulk the fixed gaps and weatherstrip the moving parts. Doing both gives the biggest drop in drafts.

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