Insulation is great for retaining your home's heat during the winter, but unless your home is properly sealed it won't perform to its best. We've blogged before about outlet and switch sealers, but because it's such a simple fix, it deserves another mention.
To get the most out of batts and blown insulation, every house needs an air barrier adjacent to or contiguous with the insulation layer. Rigid foam and spray polyurethane foam can create an effective air barrier if installed correctly (taped seams in the case of rigid foam used for wall sheathing), but some insulation, such as fiberglass batts, are very permeable to air leakage. Sealing air leaks with caulk and expanding foam and weather stripping are good options, but switch and outlet gaskets are a cheap and easy way to increase the air-tightness of your home.
Available in switch plates designs (including Decora or rocker type switches) and electrical outlets, these cheap foam gaskets can do wonders to increase the air-tightness of your home. One reader also mentioned making their own from foam meat trays.
Available at your local hardware store or much cheaper in bulk online from stores such as Home Energy Solutions or AM Conservation Group.
Other Insulation Resources:
• Cellulose Insulation
• Green Insulation Tips
• Rockwool Insulation
• Pipe Insulation
• Insulate with Bubble Wrap
© 2010 Apartment Therapy
These are good to use if you have smoky neighbors (and you are not a smoky neighbor). Smoke and cooking fumes can get pulled through neighbors' outlets and into your place.
view art's profile
Those are really ease to make. I made them for all my switches and outlets placed on the outside walls, out of a craft foam sheets from dollar store! It makes a huge difference here in Canada where winter is coming in trough all the pores...
view Yasmine's profile
Outlet sealers really do work and make the house more comfortable. I found a great discount by purchasing them in bulk at http://www.reducemyenergy.com/store/draftproducts.asp?cat=1 and got the quantity needed to do my entire house. I also picked up a bunch of baby safety outlet plugs because receptacle prong holes also leak.
view Steve Sanders's profile
There seems to be a lot of talk of installing switch and outlet gaskets only on outside walls of a home. I recommend installing outlet and switch gaskets on inside walls as well. The fact is, most inside walls are uninsulated and outside air still infiltrates inside walls by entering through any passages where electrical wiring and plumbing run. Just do every outlet and switch that you see. Foam sealers are cheap enough, so your just better off to do everything.
view Steve Sanders's profile