Electrical Box Cold Air Leakage

[John in OH]

Need to pick your brains regarding how best to insulate plastic electrical outlet boxes that are leaking cold air like crazy. The boxes are in 2x4 walls with fiberglass insulation batts that are adequate; however, these leaky boxes are quite a problem.

Foam sheets under the cover plates? Something to pack in the boxes? Just wondering what others have done to address this problem.

 

[3rdgen]

Here, some of the builders use spray foam in between vapour barrier and the box otherwise they make gaskets for behind the covers

 

[loganb]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0040JH21W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_V0A3HQHT9967YP9FC55F


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[Bert_]

I shot some expanding foam in all the holes in the boxes. I put foam sheeting under the sheetrock so I also expandafoamed the boxes to that. End result, no drafts.

 

[ambenz]

Socket sealers!

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I shot some expanding foam in all the holes in the boxes. I put foam sheeting under the sheetrock so I also expandafoamed the boxes to that. End result, no drafts.

^^This is the best way. Those foam sealer things are basically worthless if the boxes aren't sealed anyway. I don't have foam behind my drywall, but I seal all the box penetrations with foam, then either a thin bead of foam or caulk around the box depending on how well the drywall was cut. No cold drafts at all.

 

[nadogail]

Spray foam and caulk for those drafts.

 

[mobetta]

Kill the power first!

then caulk or small amounts of spray foam to seal the box penetrations. Foam can break apart as you wrestle the device back in. A decent sealant will be more resilient but either way you need to let it cure before stuffing them back in.
I'd use a good($4-5/tube) sealant that remains flexible (dynaflex 230 or similar)


It's pretty easy to seal up boxes with Tuck Tape before the wallboard goes up. Thats how i do it.

 

[Firebrick43]

Need to pick your brains regarding how best to insulate plastic electrical outlet boxes that are leaking cold air like crazy. The boxes are in 2x4 walls with fiberglass insulation batts that are adequate; however, these leaky boxes are quite a problem.

If you have air leaking in the outlets, the insulation and air sealing in the wall assembly was not adequate.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

If you have air leaking in the outlets, the insulation and air sealing in the wall assembly was not adequate.

Definitely true, but at that point it's mostly too late.

 

[Vtor]

Newer foam cans have really skinny straw that can you wiggle between box and drywall, quick shot into 4 corners should help seal nicely.

If drywall to box gasp are big.. carefully foam or caulk those too.

 

[machsnell]

I have used foam because its easy but after curiously doing a flammability test on spray foam (can type) i stopped and have been using caulk. That stuff went up quick. Even the orange "fireblock" it went up just as fast as the reg type. I guess more for blocking air.

Ironically I never have tested caulk but I assume its not as flammable.



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