Keeping the heat in without cranking up the thermostat

I get what you mean about the outlet gaskets—not sure I ever noticed a real difference with those either. For me, the biggest impact came from adding insulation to the rim joists in the basement. Did you ever try anything with your basement or crawlspace? Sometimes I wonder if that’s where a lot of my heat was sneaking out...

Funny you mention rim joists—that’s exactly where I noticed a draft in my place. Insulating them made a bigger difference than any outlet or window trick I tried. My crawlspace was another story... I thought about sealing it up, but honestly, the cost and hassle kept me from going all-in. Still, even just putting down a vapor barrier and some rigid foam board along the edges seemed to help. It’s wild how much heat can slip away down there if you’re not careful. Sometimes the stuff you can’t see makes the biggest impact.

Couldn’t agree more about the rim joists. I’ve lost count of how many jobs where folks thought new windows would solve drafts, but it was really that cold air sneaking in around the edges and under the floor.

Here’s what I’ve seen work best over the years:

- Rim joist insulation: Even just using cut-and-cobble foam board with spray foam around the edges can make a night-and-day difference.
- Crawlspace work: Like you said,

“even just putting down a vapor barrier and some rigid foam board along the edges seemed to help.”

One thing I’ll say—sealing up a crawlspace completely isn’t always worth it unless you’ve got moisture issues or critters. Sometimes simple fixes get you 80% of the way there without draining your wallet or your weekend.

Seen a few folks go overboard and end up with stuffy air or weird humidity swings. A little goes a long way if you hit the right spots.

I get where you’re coming from about not going overboard with sealing up the crawlspace, but I’ve actually seen some houses (especially older ones around here) where a full encapsulation made a massive difference—not just in drafts, but in air quality too. One place I worked on, the owners kept battling musty smells until we went all in with the vapor barrier, rigid foam, and a dehumidifier. It was a bigger job, but they said it felt like a new house after. Sometimes those “simple fixes” just don’t cut it, especially if the moisture’s sneaking in from every angle. It’s a balance, for sure, but I’d say don’t be afraid to go the extra mile if you’ve got stubborn issues.

That’s actually reassuring to hear, because I keep going back and forth on whether it’s worth the hassle (and money) to really seal things up down there. My place is from the 60s and I swear the crawlspace is responsible for at least half the weird smells and cold spots. Tried just plugging a few obvious gaps, but it’s still drafty. Kinda tempted now to just bite the bullet and go all in like you said... even if it means crawling around in spider city for a weekend or two.

- Man, crawlspaces from the 60s are basically a draft factory.
- Plugging gaps is a good start, but honestly, air finds its way in through spots you’d never expect—think plumbing holes, rim joists, weird corners.
- Full sealing with foam board or heavy plastic can make a huge difference. It’s not glamorous work (spider city is real), but you’ll notice less smell and fewer cold feet.
- Did one last year for a neighbor—he swears his floors are warmer and his socks last longer now.
- If you’re already crawling around down there, might as well do it right and be done with it... just bring knee pads and maybe some motivational snacks.

“air finds its way in through spots you’d never expect—think plumbing holes, rim joists, weird corners.”

That’s spot-on. I went pretty deep sealing up my own crawlspace—canned foam around every pipe and wire, rigid foam board at the rim joists, and a heavy vapor barrier across the whole floor. The difference was honestly bigger than I expected. Not just warmer floors but way less musty smell drifting up. One thing I’d add: make sure you don’t block off any vents or mechanicals that actually need ventilation. Over-sealing can create moisture issues if you’re not careful, especially in older homes. Always a balancing act...

- Totally agree about the crawlspace—did mine a couple years ago, and it made a bigger difference than I expected too.
- Used spray foam around pipes/wires, plus that thick plastic vapor barrier. Floors definitely feel warmer now, but I still get a little bit of that basement smell after heavy rain... not sure if I missed a spot or if that's just life in an old house.
- About blocking vents: I get the concern, but sometimes it feels like the old "let the house breathe" advice gets overblown. If you seal things up right and keep an eye on humidity, is it really that risky?
- Anyone actually run into mold after air-sealing? Or is it mostly scare talk unless you totally botch the job?
- Curious how folks balance sealing with keeping enough airflow—especially with gas appliances or older HVACs.

- Gotta say, I’m still a little skeptical about sealing everything super tight, especially in these old houses. Did that in my last place and ended up with windows sweating like crazy all winter—guess I overdid it.
- Not sure about the “let it breathe” thing being overblown... seems like there’s a fine line between cozy and swampy.
- My crawlspace got less musty after I added a small vent fan on a timer—cheap fix, and it seems to help with the funk after rain.
- Gas appliances make me nervous if there’s not some airflow, though. Rather not risk a CO issue just for warmer toes.

I hear you on the window sweating—had the same thing happen after I got a little too enthusiastic with caulk and weatherstripping in my 1920s place. Turns out, making a house airtight is great for keeping heat in, but not so great for moisture. I ended up installing a basic bathroom fan on a humidity sensor, and that seemed to help balance things out without making the place drafty again.

You’re right about gas appliances needing some fresh air. I’ve always been a bit paranoid about CO, so I put a low-level CO monitor in the basement just to be safe. Also, those vent fans on timers are underrated. I put one in my crawlspace too—cost me maybe $40 and it’s kept the mustiness down, especially after heavy rain.

I guess there’s no perfect answer—just gotta find that sweet spot between sealing up drafts and letting enough air move so you don’t end up with mold or worse. Every old house seems to have its own quirks.