CARIBOU, Maine — Todd Pelletier has been with S.W. Collins in Caribou for over 20 years, and now works as store manager. As a result, he has often given advice to those looking to protect their homes against frigid northern Maine winters.
According to Pelletier, three of the most commonly looked areas are the attic, windows, and doors.
“You want to make sure your windows and doors are sealed,” said Pelletier. “They’re basically big holes in the walls, and the weather can hit them and push in a lot of cold air. You want to look for a window with a low U value, and triple-glazed windows are some of the best for energy efficiency.”
A window’s U-factor indicates how well it insulates, and typically ranges between 0.25 and 1.25. The lower the number, the more effective it insulates the home. While it is important to search for a window with a low U-factor, other insulating materials are rated by an R-value, which should ideally be a higher number.
“The R-Value measures resistance to the cold,” said Pelletier. “You should have an R value of 21 or greater in your walls, and the R value of your roof should be 49 or higher.”
The store manager also recommended applying shrink wrap to older windows and doors as a quick fix, and adds that poly wrap is a common purchase during the winter months.
Like windows, poorly insulated doors can cause cold air to penetrate a home.
“Make sure the foam weatherstripping around your doors is up to par,” Pelletier said. “If it’s compressed, you know it’s used up. You want the door to kind of crush the weather stripping when you close it so you know you’re getting a tight seal. Your entry door is being opened and closed four to five times a day, and this could easily wear out the rubber weather stripping on the bottom, which can be prevented by purchasing a replacement.”
In addition to windows and doors, a poorly insulated attic can cause a multitude of problems during the winter.
“If you already have rolled insulation in there, you can add in another layer of blown-in cellulose or fiberglass,” said Pelletier. “Ventilation is important, too. You want to make sure there is enough airflow so ice doesn’t build up, causing your roof to leak.”
According to the store manager, customers are typically buying rolled insulation or batts (a fiberglass material) to combat frigid weather.
“There are a lot of things you can do to insulate your home,” said Pelletier. “You can pick up foam covers for your outlet plates to block drafts, put spray foam in cracks, and use poly wrap. People usually buy a lot of insulation to add to their homes because they know about its benefits.”
The store manager concluded by saying that if anyone wants additional advice on home improvement, they are welcome to come to the store and ask any questions they have.
