Insulating Outlets and Fixtures
You probably know how important it is to insulate your home and to keep doors and windows tightly sealed. Those steps are key to keeping your house at the temperature you want, but you might be overlooking the loss of energy through your electrical boxes, fixtures, and outlets.
Those outlets let air in and out of your house, sometimes at an alarming rate. Little gaps can mean big bucks when it’s time to pay your electric bill. These gaps and leaks are an open invitation to rain, bugs, humidity in the summer and cold air in the winter. They’re also defeating your attempts to live a greener, energy-conscious lifestyle.
Seal Those Gaps
Some homeowners use foam insulation around outlets, but that often doesn’t hold and it can even make things worse. If you want to stop the gap, call one of SESCOS certified technicians. We’ll provide a professional solution that will keep your outlets and fixtures sealed tight against wind, cold and bugs.
Following are three common methods that electricians can use to seal the leaks and keep your heat and air conditioning inside where they belong.
Foam Insulating Gaskets
Made of flexible foam shaped to fit over a wall plate, these gaskets will help form a tight seal around your outlets. To install, a technician first has to remove the cover plate from the wall. The padded foam gasket is then placed over the outlet and the cover plate is reinstalled. These insulating covers come with holes cut for light switches, toggle switches, and rocker switches. They are a quick, simple solution that will give you lasting energy savings.
Electrical Box Insulation
If your electrical box faces the exterior air, you might feel an unwelcome breeze coming from it. The box might also be close to cable wiring, pipes or vents that all lead to air leaks. To fix them, use an exterior-grade caulk to close up the gaps around the box.
Don’t use standard caulk for this job, and don’t use the caulk or any form of insulation inside the electrical box. The interior wiring needs some air to keep from overheating. This isn’t as easy as it looks, so your safest bet is to hire an electrician to do this for you.
Recessed Light Cans
Recessed lights are often a major source of air leaks, but adding insulation to them is a tricky business. In older models, placing insulation close to the rim creates a fire hazard, especially if the lights are directly under an attic. Newer models are rated “insulation contact” or IC, meaning it’s safe to place insulation on them.
This is definitely a job you don’t want to tackle yourself. A professional electrician can tell you if the recessed lighting in your home or business is IC-rated and install the insulation correctly and safely. You may need to replace older cans with newer models.
Signed and Sealed
Sealing air leaks around your electrical outlets, boxes and fixtures is a fast, straightforward project that will make your house or commercial space energy-efficient and save you money. You’ll also enjoy a home or business that’s free from drafts and excess humidity.
Energy experts note that up to 20 percent of the energy produced in American homes is wasted, and the number is even higher for commercial buildings. Stop the waste by giving SESCOS a call. We’ll provide safe, proven techniques for stopping those gaps. By sealing your leaks, you’ll cut down on wasted energy, save money and contribute to a greener future for all.