If your house if older than 25 or 30 years old you probably have a few drafty doors or windows that seem to let that cold Winter air in.
Most homeowners are aware that air leaks into and out of their houses through small openings around doors and window frames and through fireplaces and chimneys. Air also enters the living space from other unheated parts of the house, such as attics, basements, or crawlspaces.
The air travels through:
any openings or cracks where two walls meet,
where the wall meets the ceiling, or near interior door frames;
gaps around electrical outlets,
switch boxes, and recessed fixtures;
gaps behind recessed cabinets
gaps around attic access hatches and pull-down stairs;
behind bath tubs and shower stall units;
plumbing, cable, and electrical wiring penetrations.
These leaks between the living space and other parts of the house are often much greater than the obvious leaks around windows and doors. Since many of these leakage paths are driven by the tendency for warm air to rise and cool air to fall, the attic is often the best place to stop them.
It's important to stop these leaks before adding attic insulation because the insulation may hide them and make them less accessible. Usually, the attic insulation itself will not stop these leaks and you won't save as much as you expect because of the air flowing through or around the insulation.
Older homes are likely to use more energy than newer homes, leading to higher heating and air- conditioning bills. If you add some inexpensive weatherproofing around those drafty doors and windows you could save some money this winter and have lower utility bills!
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