Weatherstripping doors and windows is an easy way to save money and keep your home more comfortable.

Just 1/8 inch gap between your front door and its frame is equal to a 2 square inch hole in the wall. The more leaky windows and doors you have, the bigger the imaginary hole in the wall. Closing those gaps can lower your heating and cooling costs up to 15%. Plus, it's good for the planet.

To learn about the weatherstripping and insulation needs of your entire house, it might be a good idea to have an energy audit conducted, complete with blower doors and infrared cameras.

If that seems too much, you can find out which windows and doors need to be weatherstripped by testing them yourself with a candle. On a windy day, light a candle and move it around windows and doors. The places where the candle flickers need to be sealed - if doing all the checking at a time, mark the areas with a chalk to be measured later. Another easy way to know if your windows and doors are shut tight, is to close them with a piece of paper in between. If you can pull it out without the paper ripping, you're losing heat.

When measuring for weatherstripping, remember to add some to make sure you won't run out. There are many different kinds of weatherstripping, from do-it-yourself kits to ones that need professional installation. Different locations might need different weatherstripping. Whatever you choose, make sure it will withstand the friction, weather, temperature changes, and wear and tear associated with its location. A complete list of common weatherstrippings, their uses, cost, pros and cons is listed by the U.S. Department of Energy.