Did you notice drafts around electrical outlets too? I replaced my windows thinking it'd solve everything, but ended up needing those foam outlet sealers. Who knew cold air could sneak in through there...
Yeah, those sneaky drafts around outlets caught me off guard too. When I first moved into my place, I thought sealing the windows would be enough. But nope, still felt that chilly breeze near the couch. Took me forever to figure out it was coming from the outlets—who even thinks about that stuff when buying a house?
Ended up grabbing those foam sealers you mentioned, and honestly, they made a noticeable difference. Also, someone suggested caulking around the outlet boxes themselves if there's a bigger gap behind the wall. I haven't tried that yet, but might be worth looking into if you're still feeling drafts.
Homeownership is definitely a learning curve... just when you think you've got it all figured out, something else pops up. Hang in there, sounds like you're already making great progress!
I've actually found caulking around outlet boxes can be a bit tricky—especially if you ever need to access wiring later. Personally, I'd stick with foam sealers or insulated outlet covers... simpler and less messy in the long run. Just my two cents from past experience.
Yeah, caulking around outlets always seemed like more trouble than it's worth to me too. Had to redo some wiring a few years back and spent way too long scraping off old caulk—never again. Foam sealers are definitely the easier route, and insulated covers make a noticeable difference without the hassle. Good call on that. Glad you're enjoying the window upgrades though... always nice when a home improvement actually pays off, right?
Yeah, foam sealers are a lifesaver compared to caulking. Had a similar experience with outlets when I first moved into my place—previous owners had gone caulk-crazy, and pulling it off was like peeling dried gum off a sidewalk. Took forever and made me question my life choices...
Speaking of window upgrades though, it's great you're already seeing results. When I swapped mine out last year, I noticed a huge drop in drafts almost immediately. The rooms felt warmer, quieter too, which was an unexpected bonus. But it got me thinking about other sneaky spots where air leaks might be hiding. Like around recessed lights—ever checked those? I was surprised how much air movement there was when I stuck my hand up near the ceiling fixtures on a windy day.
Ended up sealing those too (carefully, of course), and it made a noticeable difference in our heating bills. Now I'm kind of obsessed with tracking down hidden leaks—it's like a weird energy-efficiency scavenger hunt around the house.
Have you noticed any other weak spots in your home after upgrading the windows? Curious if anyone else has stumbled onto spots that surprised them...
- Recessed lights were a big one for me too, didn't realize until I felt the breeze on a windy day.
- Also found leaks around attic hatch—easy fix with weatherstripping.
- Fireplace damper surprised me...worth checking if you haven't yet.
Recessed lights can definitely leak air, but honestly, I've found that weatherstripping the attic hatch doesn't always cut it. Depending on how your hatch is built, sometimes it's better to add rigid foam insulation on the backside of the hatch panel itself. Weatherstripping helps seal the edges, sure, but the hatch door itself can be thin plywood or drywall—still letting heat escape. A quick DIY fix is gluing a layer or two of rigid foam insulation board directly to the hatch. Easy job and makes a noticeable difference...just my two cents.
Good tip about the foam insulation on the hatch—seen that work pretty well myself. But what about sealing around electrical outlets and switches on exterior walls? I've noticed drafts there too, especially in older homes. Anyone tried those foam gasket things behind outlet covers or is caulking around the boxes a better option? Curious if there's a noticeable difference between the two methods...
"Anyone tried those foam gasket things behind outlet covers or is caulking around the boxes a better option?"
I've messed around with both methods quite a bit, and honestly, neither one really blew me away. Those foam gasket pads are super easy to install, but in my experience, they don't seal as tightly as you'd hope. They're better than nothing, sure, but if you've got a strong draft coming through, you'll still feel it—especially on windy days.
Caulking around the outlet boxes themselves can be more effective, but it's also a messy pain in the neck if you're not careful. Plus, you gotta make sure you're using the right kind of caulk that's safe around electrical stuff (I learned that one the hard way—don't ask 😂).
One thing I've found works surprisingly well is actually using spray foam insulation (the low-expansion type) carefully around the boxes from inside the wall cavity. It's a bit trickier—you've gotta remove the outlet cover and carefully spray just enough to seal gaps without overdoing it. Overfill it and you'll have a mess on your hands when it expands into places you don't want it. But if you take your time and go slow, it's honestly the best solution I've found. I did this in my old drafty 1950s place, and it made a noticeable difference.
Just make sure you shut off power first (duh), and wear gloves because that stuff sticks to everything like crazy. Learned that one the hard way too... still have a sweatshirt with permanent foam decoration on it. 😅
I've been debating this same thing lately. My place isn't super drafty, but I definitely feel cold air around some outlets on windy days. Those foam pads seemed like an easy fix, but now I'm not so sure after reading your experience. Spray foam sounds effective, but knowing me I'd probably end up with it everywhere... Did you notice any difference in your heating bill after sealing those gaps?