Sealing all air leaks in house

kingbhome

As winter is fast approaching, I'm wanting to seal up any air leaks in my home. I've already installed draft proof strips on my windows and doors. I will be caulking any gaps around my skirting boards all over the house. I've been advised to seal all air leaks around sockets and light switches but as of how to do this, I wouldn't know. Is it safe to seal the internal conduit in tech7 .

BryanF

intumescent fire rated mastic

Don’t use silicone

s7ryf3925pivug

How much benefit is there in dealing lots of small gaps like this? Is it something that should be done as a matter of course?

Black_Knight

So to hijack, but I've French doors that need new sealing strips. Any in particular I should get or is there just generic door/window sealing strips in the likes of woodies?

kingbhome

Nolan Unimportant Mountaineer wrote: »

How much benefit is there in dealing lots of small gaps like this? Is it something that should be done as a matter of course?

It's hugely important to seal all air leaks in one's home. This is where most the heat lose occours, especially in windy weather.

dok_golf

As long as you have adequate ventilation in the home

CalamariFritti

Good OP, I'm interested. My house is one single air leak. From front and back door to vents to godknowswhat. I take a candle around the house with all doors and windows closed and no matter where I am the flame is going like I'm in some medieval castle or something. The house is only twenty years old and I can't get it snuggsy at all in the winter unless I have a solid fire going and that only covers one room. Not surprising with that stuff going on.

My plan is to replace front and back door and that will make a big improvement I hope but I didn't realise skirting boards and sockets could be a problem.

Also there are air vents in every room. I understand you probably want one where there is a fireplace or the boiler. But why would my front room or my bedroom need a vent? I've lived on the continent for a good while and in all my apartments there wasnt a single vent to be found. If you needed fresh air you opened the window.

I'm tempted to close them all up except sitting room (fireplace) and kitchen (boiler & cooking). Any reason why this would be a bad idea?

kingbhome

dok_golf wrote: »

As long as you have adequate ventilation in the home

Of course but one isn't going to close them all off unless they strip back the house and use air tightness tape, membrane etc...

kingbhome

BryanF wrote: »

intumescent fire rated mastic

Don’t use silicone

Would this do? Sealing up all gaps in the conduit in sockets and switches along with ceiling roses.


No Nonsense Fire Retardant Silicone White 310ml
€7.15
Screwfix Ireland
(6)

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Outkast_IRE

All this talk of draft proof strips - Lads draft proof strips should be the final port of call.



1st thing to do is get in one of the reputable windows servicing / repair crowds to check how all the windows and doors are sealing... often new hinges for a few euro and 15 mins work will have it like new.



2nd thing is do not block up any wall vents - they are required for good reason, if you start blocking these up your health will suffer due to mold growth etc. there are many molds you cant see.

kingbhome

CalamariFritti wrote: »

Good OP, I'm interested. My house is one single air leak. From front and back door to vents to godknowswhat. I take a candle around the house with all doors and windows closed and no matter where I am the flame is going like I'm in some medieval castle or something. The house is only twenty years old and I can't get it snuggsy at all in the winter unless I have a solid fire going and that only covers one room. Not surprising with that stuff going on.

My plan is to replace front and back door and that will make a big improvement I hope but I didn't realise skirting boards and sockets could be a problem.

Also there are air vents in every room. I understand you probably want one where there is a fireplace or the boiler. But why would my front room or my bedroom need a vent? I've lived on the continent for a good while and in all my apartments there wasnt a single vent to be found. If you needed fresh air you opened the window.

I'm tempted to close them all up except sitting room (fireplace) and kitchen (boiler & cooking). Any reason why this would be a bad idea?

Typical of house's built in the boom or before. I've upgraded my insulation in the attic, installed a multi-fuel stove and now it's time to seal all the air leaks. After this it will be pumping the walls and a few years later, I'll be doing the external insulation. It's a large home and it's very comfortable in spring summer however in later autumn a d winter, it's a fridge. I'm hugging the radiator in my room going to bed when the oil was on.

I think I mentioned in the OP, I'll be caulking all skirting boards, sealing rest of the external doors and windows. Sealing all windows with silicone where it meets the plaster. Any other places where I'll find the air leaks.

the_pen_turner

CalamariFritti wrote: »

Good OP, I'm interested. My house is one single air leak. From front and back door to vents to godknowswhat. I take a candle around the house with all doors and windows closed and no matter where I am the flame is going like I'm in some medieval castle or something. The house is only twenty years old and I can't get it snuggsy at all in the winter unless I have a solid fire going and that only covers one room. Not surprising with that stuff going on.

My plan is to replace front and back door and that will make a big improvement I hope but I didn't realise skirting boards and sockets could be a problem.

Also there are air vents in every room. I understand you probably want one where there is a fireplace or the boiler. But why would my front room or my bedroom need a vent? I've lived on the continent for a good while and in all my apartments there wasnt a single vent to be found. If you needed fresh air you opened the window.

I'm tempted to close them all up except sitting room (fireplace) and kitchen (boiler & cooking). Any reason why this would be a bad idea?

all kinds of repiretry issues
radon build up
carbon monoxide issues
carbon dioxide
mould
damp
mildue
paint flaking
black staining on walls

whizbang

We need to know about the construction of the house before making any comments about sealing it up .

For instance, there's no point in sealing the skirting boards, if the internal side of the walls are solid plaster on block.
If there is a cavity behind the plasterboard, then replace it with internal insulation. In the meantime it may be better tackling the sealing from the attic.

Are the vents ducted and sealed from internal surface to external surface? If not get this sorted first.

And I agree, we dont need a 100mm open vent in every room.

Wartburg

whizbang wrote: »

We need to know about the construction of the house before making any comments about sealing it up .

For instance, there's no point in sealing the skirting boards, if the internal side of the walls are solid plaster on block.
If there is a cavity behind the plasterboard, then replace it with internal insulation. In the meantime it may be better tackling the sealing from the attic.

Are the vents ducted and sealed from internal surface to external surface? If not get this sorted first.

And I agree, we dont need a 100mm open vent in every room.

I´m sorry but I have to disagree.

The attached image was taken last week during a building survey. The floor-to-wall junction needs definitely attention because it´s almost never sealed perfect, even nowadays. Internal wall insulation can make the air infiltration/ thermal looping worse if you haven´t sealed properly behind the insulation. I can admire the same issue in almost every survey for existing houses.

You´re right by saying we don´t need 100mm open vents. In the most cases we need even bigger vents to allow an appropriate supply of fresh air. The better option would be mechanical ventilation. Have you ever noticed how stuffy new air tight & well insulated buildings are, before they get the ventilation system running? Why should it be different in a retrofit? The physical laws are the same for both types of building.

whizbang

Great pic.

I will agree with you about Internal wall insulation tho..
Its sort of why the good guys insist that work like this is often not good, unless done as part of an overall integrated solution

CalamariFritti

the_pen_turner wrote: »

all kinds of repiretry issues
radon build up
carbon monoxide issues
carbon dioxide
mould
damp
mildue
paint flaking
black staining on walls

Is that still a real issue in modern houses or is that something that people still do because its 'the done thing', something from the olden days? Asking 'cos I've never seen any of these issues except in houses that had damp walls to begin with. Ancient houses and cottages and such.

I know humidity may be higher here than on the continent and I'm not disputing it as such, just questioning what's the point of heating systems and insulation when you then have holes in the walls everywhere?

the_pen_turner

CalamariFritti wrote: »

Is that still a real issue in modern houses or is that something that people still do because its 'the done thing', something from the olden days? Asking 'cos I've never seen any of these issues except in houses that had damp walls to begin with. Ancient houses and cottages and such.

I know humidity may be higher here than on the continent and I'm not disputing it as such, just questioning what's the point of heating systems and insulation when you then have holes in the walls everywhere?

under most circumstances i would say no not big issues but in some cases yes.

a lot of people dry clothes inside on radiators etc. this is a big no no with out a lot of ventilation.

i have seen houses with downdraughts on chimneys caused by not enough air vents. one house ,everytime you opened the internal door into the room it would pull smoke out of the stove. installed a 4" vent in the wall and cut 6mm off the door and problem sorted.

kingbhome

Some interesting replies! Now I'm wondering should I even seal up the air leaks or leave for ventilation.

Lumen

kingbhome wrote: »

Some interesting replies! Now I'm wondering should I even seal up the air leaks or leave for ventilation.

It totally depends where they are.

listermint

CalamariFritti wrote: »

Is that still a real issue in modern houses or is that something that people still do because its 'the done thing', something from the olden days? Asking 'cos I've never seen any of these issues except in houses that had damp walls to begin with. Ancient houses and cottages and such.

I know humidity may be higher here than on the continent and I'm not disputing it as such, just questioning what's the point of heating systems and insulation when you then have holes in the walls everywhere?

Im not sure if this is a serious reply or not but il give it a go.

I used to rent an A rated apartment, not something that was shabbily constructed either. It had beautiful custom Scandanavian timber windows treble glazed and ventilation within the windows. Each room had a tiny vent in it. I think it may even have been 90mm rather than 100 mm.

Those windows and the frames developed mould within the first year, In the living space. black mold on the frames. We were the first tenant in the place. The living room kitchen was where the mould was worse but it was also in the bedroom.

Why ? Poxy ventilation. And we used to dry our clothes on the balcony consciously to avoid moisture.


Most people have not got a clue the level requirement where ventilation is needed from all aspects and most importantly health. And it seems from your comments so far you fit into that bracket. Regular flat earther when it comes to the facts.

One thing ive learned in life, "just because you have not seen it, doesnt mean it doesnt exist" - Have you ever seen a Spix's Macaw ??

Turnrew

Sealing up sockets and switches is an OK idea in theory

Depending on the state of the wiring you might end up needing an electrician after you disturb it. Sockets and lights no longer working etc.

Just saying from an electricians perspective that's what you can expect to happen

CalamariFritti

listermint wrote: »

Im not sure if this is a serious reply or not but il give it a go.

I used to rent an A rated apartment, not something that was shabbily constructed either. It had beautiful custom Scandanavian timber windows treble glazed and ventilation within the windows. Each room had a tiny vent in it. I think it may even have been 90mm rather than 100 Inch.

Those windows and the frames developed mould within the first year, In the living space. black mold on the frames. We were the first tenant in the place. The living room kitchen was where the mould was worse but it was also in the bedroom.

Why ? Poxy ventilation. And we used to dry our clothes on the balcony consciously to avoid moisture.


Most people have not got a clue the level requirement where ventilation is needed from all aspects and most importantly health. And it seems from your comments so far you fit into that bracket. Regular flat earther when it comes to the facts.

One thing ive learned in life, "just because you have not seen it, doesnt mean it doesnt exist" - Have you ever seen a Spix's Macaw ??

Well I haven’t got a clue. That’s why I’m asking. No need for the smart arse comments, but thanks anyway.

beauf

Lot of modern build have vents but no airflow.
Many old properties were so drafty, it wasn't an issue.
Used to be all bathrooms had a window. Many now don't.

Try clearing a misty car window with one windows slightly open.
Then try it with two windows open, to create a cross of air.
Then try it with AC.

What you are doing is replacing old air, or air loaded with moisture with new, or dry air.