Energy Guide

2
Plumbing penetrations
Around the perimeter of covered
wire and electrical conduit
penetrations on exterior walls
Air/heating vents
Central vac system piping
House Exterior
Electric, gas, cable and
A/C penetrations
Vent hoods
Exterior garage walls
Outside water faucet
Dryer vent
Cooling line from A/C condenser
(outside on a concrete pad) and
heat pump penetration into house
Air leaks account for 25–40%* of the energy used for heating and cooling a typical home. According to the Residential Energy
Services Network (RESNET), proper insulating and air sealing can help lower heating and cooling costs by up to 30%.
Now you can take on a few easy DIY projects this weekend to see immediate savings while making your home more comfortable
and environmentally friendly for the long term.
Attic
Attic hatch frame (outer perimeter)
Plumbing stacks and shafts
Gas lines
HVAC penetrations
Electrical and cable lines
TV connections
Look for dirty insulation, which
can indicate air infiltration
Basement
Sill plate
Rim joist
Floor wall junction
Headers
Gas lines
PVC pipe penetrations (water
and waste)
Attic Hatch
While the insulation in your attic may have an acceptable R-value**, the attic hatch door system is often the weakest link
in the attic insulation. To help keep the conditioned air in the living space from escaping through the attic, air seal the gap
between the attic hatch door frame and the ceiling joists
1. Pick a day when the attic temperature is bearable.
2. Remove loose pieces of insulation in the gap before foaming.
3. Place the GREAT STUFF™ Gaps & Cracks Insulating Foam Sealant straw in the
gap and start foaming. Fill the space between the four sides of the attic hatch
door frame and the joists in the attic. Do not overfill.
HVAC
If you have ducts in the attic, use GREAT STUFF™ Gaps & Cracks Insulating Foam Sealant to seal around all of the HVAC
boots where they penetrate the drywall into the living space below. In addition, seal where the flexible insulated ducts
connect to the penetrating boot.
*www.energystar.gov
** R means resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the gr eater the insulating power.
HVAC duct penetrations
Window and door frames without
trim (use Window & Door formula)
Around the perimeter of wire
and conduit penetrations from
exterior of house
Cable TV lines
Central vac system piping
Living Space
Under baseboards
Gas line penetrations
Window and door frames
(during installation with
Window & Door formula)
Around perimeter of electrical
outlets (not inside box)
COMPLETE CHECKLIST
THE ATTIC
What’s hotter than the outdoors on a sunny summer day? Your attic.
Keep the heat out of your living space with GREAT STUFF
™
Insulating Foam Sealants.