Determine the Effort Required

Use the chart below to assess which home improvement projects you will feel comfortable doing yourself, and which you may want to hire a contractor for.

	Doing the Project Yourself*			Hiring a Contractor*		Projects
	Ease of Project	Time (days)	Costs	Time (days)	Costs	How-to-Instructions
Attic	Difficult	1−3	$$$$$	1−2	$$$$$	Attic Air Sealing Project Attic Insulation Project
Basement/ Crawlspace	Moderate − Difficult	1−3	$$$$$	1−2	$$$$$	Basement/Crawlspace Air Sealing and Insulation Project
Ducts	Moderate − Difficult	1−3	$$$$$	1−2	$$$$$	Duct Air Sealing Duct Insulation
Doors/Windows/Walls	Moderate	1−2	$$$$$	1	$$$$$	Air Sealing Wall Penetrations Air Sealing Electrical Outlets Air Sealing Behind Window and Door Trim Weatherstripping Doors Weatherstripping Windows Applying Plastic Over Windows Air Sealing Fireplaces

*Results will vary depending on the age, construction and condition of your home, as well as the contractor estimates.
Key: $ = <$100, $$$$$ = >$2,000

Utility Rebates

Many local utilities may offer rebates for a professional home energy assessment and certain air sealing and insulation projects.

Be sure to contact your utility company before beginning a project to see what incentives are available in your area. You can also check for incentives using the DSIRE database for state incentives.

Financial Assistance

You may be eligible for financial assistance to make improvements like air sealing and insulating through your state's Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP).

For more information, visit the following site and select your state of residence: Weatherization Assistance Agency Locator.