Sealing Walls to Floors (Project, Cheap)

According to a Modern Marvels show on Insulation that I saw today, $13 Billion worth of energy is lost each year in America through cracks and holes in residential structures. Lets cut that down some, shall we?

Previous posts here on my Conserving Energy Blog dealt with plugging holes using Great Stuff, and with stopping energy loss through outlet and switch plates. Both stop energy loss through holes or cracks in the walls that lead to the attic, basement, or the outside.

Another frequently overlooked crack is the space created in older homes when walls don't quite seal to solid flooring. Typically, a gap will be left between drywall or paneling and the floor. Baseboards are used to make this area more pleasing to the eye, but don't necessarily seal it. This leaves an area that unconditioned air or partially conditioned air can travel through the walls and increase energy loss.

To combat this, caulk between the bottom of the baseboard and any hardwood, tile, laminate, or any other hard surfaced floor. Most newer homes have this done already, so look closely before buying any caulk. Carpeted floors would just make a mess, so don't try this with carpets. Color choice is up to you, but I've seen brown used to match wood floors, white to match the grout in tile floors, and we used clear on our home.

Make sure to seal around and beneath door and window framing. Also seal around both the inside and outside of outside door thresholds. Don't forget the insides of closets, pantries, air conditioning returns and behind major appliances.

This project will only cost a couple of tubes of caulk, so it's fairly cheap. Depending on the weather and the severity of your home's air flow problems, this could save you a few dollars a month.