It’s the end of October. The weather has turned cold here in our Westfield community. It’s only going to get colder. Old Man Winter will be here in full force before you know it! Now would be a great time to check your home for air leaks. You may think you know where all the culprits are. But, are you looking for leaks in all the wrong places?
Looking for Leaks in All the Wrong Places
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You have replaced cracked weatherstripping around your windows and doors. You re-caulked where needed. You found and fixed all the obvious places where air leaks could be found. But you still feel a draft in your Westfield home. Could it be that you were looking for leaks in all the wrong places? How about checking…your bathroom!
Did you know that plumbers have to cut into your sub-flooring in order to install the drain assembly for your tub? This is not a cut-to-fit process, either. The drain assembly is quite large. To ensure that they have enough “wiggle room”, plumbers will cut out a generously-sized hole that goes all the way down to the area below it. This can leave a huge hole for air to leak back into your house. It is also a great access point for outside critters to make their way inside.
How to Plug an Air Leak in the Bathroom
Most plumbers will seal the hole quickly with loose insulation. Over time, this will sag, leaving openings for air and animals to get in. You can hire a plumber to find and plug up the hole. This will set you back anywhere from $100-$150. If you’d rather do it yourself, you will need to crawl underneath your bathroom (typically, your crawl space) to locate the drain assembly hole. Cut foam board so that it fits as snug as possible around the pipes. Make sure it is screwed securely into place. Use spray foam insulation to seal up any gaps left over.
Have you been looking for leaks in all the wrong places? The windows and doors are not the only places you will find air leaks. Luckily, leaks can be fixed pretty easily. Then you will stay nice and toasty this winter. And your wallet will be happy, too.
Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes