HOME IMPROVEMENT : Tape, Caulking Help You Warm Up for Winter

There are simple cold-proofing tactics to supplement attic insulation, according to Do It Yourself magazine. Following are some suggestions:

- Protect exposed water pipes in an unheated basement. Wrap them with electric heat tape, cover with foam pipe jackets, or bundle with fiberglass insulation secured by duct tape.

- Apply duct tape to gaps around hot and cold furnace ducts.

- Block drafts under entry doors with flexible vinyl door sweeps or thresholds with built-in weather stripping.

- Apply adhesive-backed foam weather strips to top and bottom window rails. Nail felt weather stripping where window sash and frame make contact.

- Shrink-wrap heavy insulating film on the inside of drafty windows to fight air infiltration and prevent condensation.

- Caulk or seal exterior gaps where different materials meet. Common trouble spots include between siding and windows, along the roof and foundation lines, around chimneys, and where pipes enter. Choose a formula according to material--wood, masonry or metal.

- Repair cracked windowpanes with transparent sealing tape.

- Seal any leaking joints where windowpanes are set into frames with press-on glaze compound.

- Cover outdoor air-conditioning units and secure with weatherproof tape.