How to Stop Air Drafts From Going Under a House's Crawl Space
A drafty crawl space wastes energy, increases heating and cooling bills and reduces the comfort of your home. A combination of solutions will stop air drafts under your house's crawl space while improving comfort and energy efficiency. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Caulk
- Caulk gun
- Solid vent covers
- Spray foam sealant
- 6-mil plastic vapor barrier
- Staple gun
- Staples
- Vinyl tape
- Tape measure
- Blanket insulation
- Marker
- Sharp utility knife
- 2 pieces of 3-by-3-foot plywood
Instructions
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1
Check the perimeter of the crawl space above the foundation wall for areas where air leaks may be occurring. Caulk around plumbing, electrical and cable lines where the space is less than 1/4-inch wide. Use spray foam sealant for larger gaps.
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2
Seal vents with 6-mil plastic by taping a piece of plastic securely against the foundation with vinyl tape or install solid vent covers.
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3
Cover walls inside the crawl space with a 6-mil vapor barrier. Staple the vapor barrier to the sill plate at the top of the foundation wall. Apply vinyl tape to cover the staples and seal all seams.
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4
Inspect the exterior around the base of siding for gaps. Fill all gaps with foam sealant.
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5
In the crawl space, measure the space between the sill plate at the top of the foundation wall and the floor.
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6
Using the measurement from Step 5, measure and cut pieces of blanket insulation to fill the cavities between the sill plate and sub floor around the perimeter of the crawl space. Mark the size needed with a marker. Place the cut line on the center of a piece of 3-by-3-foot plywood. Place another piece of the same size plywood on the insulation with the edge at the location for the cut. Press down on the top piece of plywood to compress the insulation. Cut along the cut line with a sharp utility knife.
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7
Push the piece of blanket insulation into the cavity between the top of the foundation wall and the floor joists.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Inspect caulk and spray foam sealant every year for cracks or missing pieces and replace as needed.
References
- Photo Credit new home image by steven Husk from Fotolia.com
