Drafty House, and drafty outlets. |
Question And Answer Category: Home Energy Savings |
Question: |
| Dear BlankHelp Team, I've been trying to seal up my house against drafts. As time goes on, the house seems warmer. Which makes individual drafts seem more obvious. I've noticed that some of our duplex receptacles are drafty. It seems weird that I have drafty outlets, but I seriously do. I mentioned this to a coworker, and his suggestion was opening each outlet and trying to inject expanding foam behind the box. I can't figure how to do this, or if it's even safe. Can you help? Susan |
Our Advice and Answer: |
| Hello Susan, Congratulations on your efforts to making your house more energy efficient. OK, drafty duplex receptacle outlets do waste energy. I would also check your switch outlets, they too can be a source for drafts, although there are usually fewer switch outlets compared to duplex receptacle outlets in a typical house. Now to your question, let's get to the coworkers suggestion. We really do not recommend doing what the coworker has suggested. Expanding foam in a wall can push on outlets, and bow the electrical boxes. Also sticking anything into a electrical box automatically causes us to rethink about what the intentions are. To foam the outside of the electrical box, from the inside of the box is not very practical. This is why we recommend duplex receptacle foam insulation gasket. You can find these at your typical home improvement store. The foam insulation pads also come in various shapes to match wall switches, duplex outlets regular, and decora duplex outlets. To install, the face place is removed, and the foam is applied to the switch or receptacle, and mounts flush to the wall. Once the foam insulation gasket is installed, the face plate is reinstalled. The receptacle foam insulation gasket acts as an air barrier, and work with the faceplate to ensure drafts are minimized. We hope this helps you continue your adventure in saving money, and welcome other home energy savings questions. The BlankHelp Team |
Home Energy Savings Help and Advice Notice: |
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