Insulating sockets

User567363

House is about 20 years old, no issues with heat, just me being a perfectionist..

I noticed some of the wall sockets on external walls are loose and can have a cold breeze

I think if i looes them from the wall, stuff in some glassfibre attic insulation, tighten back to wall and seal with caulk it would help the house keep in a bit more heat

Assume someone is gonna reply saying this is a bad idea, so looking forward to learning more

listermint

Better off sealing the holes in it or conduit with

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/no-nonsense-intumescent-sealant-white-310ml/5689R?tc=BI8&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA2KitBhCIARIsAPPMEhL7yIe6o2GaxMrsqEjPuEa6sH6CGyixHDYdZ1bqh389GhYkHita9T0aAkZPEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Calahonda52

Glass fibre not any use in this car as its not airtight

how are the wire feed to sockets?

User567363

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121640693#Comment_121640693

The walls were chased, wires in the groves, then insulated slabs stuck to walls with holes cut for the sockets

Be impossial to make an air tight seal inside with the wires, was assuming caulking the sockets to the wall will stop air getting in or out

listermint

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121640757#Comment_121640757

Intumescent sealant as above to seal the chase area down to socket box. Prevent air coming into the box cavity rather than around the socket itself.

mickdw

Did the blockwork have a wet plaster finish under the slabs for airtightness?

User567363

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121641120#Comment_121641120

Nope, there is probably air getting through the blockwork so i am trying to seal as much as possubal where i have access, hence plan for caulking around sockets and light switches

Applying the Intumescent sealant as suggested would require turning off power, fully removing the face plate and sealing around the back of the cutout where the slab meets the wall, sounds very difficult and there is bound to be a spot missed, i am 50, eyes just arent as good as they were 10 years ago

listermint

50s the new 40 my man 😎

CelticRambler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121642412#Comment_121642412

 turning off power, fully removing the face plate and sealing around the back of the cutout where the slab meets the wall

That's the only way you're going to fix the problem. Blindly stuffing insulation and caulk into whatever gap you can create without removing the faceplate will be very messy and never be a success. Besides, if you have dodgy eyes, you definitely need to be turning off the power before you go poking things near electrical wires!

The Ging and I

I used expandable foam for this and it worked very well. But you must use small amounts. If you miss a bit come back later.

mickdw

With the blocks leaking air at a great rate,

Filling sockets will only.oush the same air to escape skirting or somewhere else.

listermint

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121644109#Comment_121644109

Can we really tell the blocks are leaking air at a great rate though. Depends on the build, the cavity external, finish, age lots of things.

mickdw

Concrete blocks are porous. No debate really. You might get away with it with pumped cavity otherwise air walks through them.

listermint

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121644516#Comment_121644516

No debating. We know their porous but Leaking air at a great rate' . We've no clue of his setup.

Example every room in my house was plastered, not boarded. 1970s plastered one toilet was rendered.

Is that air porous ?

User567363

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121642493#Comment_121642493

Lol good point about electricity, but i was just gonna use finger to rub a bead of caulk all around where socket face meets the wall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121644109#Comment_121644109

Interesting,i could run a bead along the top and bottom of skirting board too

User567363

I suppose my thinking was i have 100mm insulation all around bar where they cut holes for the sockets and light switches and the draught proofing was to reduce the dusty air getting in

mickdw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121644524#Comment_121644524

Any wet finish internally should give an acceptable level of airtightness. Would be used with barriers and taping at junction now but in the 1970s no so I'd guess any issues you could have would be around windows etc.