Sealing air leaks around sockets/switches
- Thread starter 2019
- Start date
Sponsored Links
I don't remember there being a significant wind when removing switches or sockets in people's houses.
Anyway, silicon is not the right material to use.
Anyway, silicon is not the right material to use.
My comments are based on common sense coupled with an understanding of the physics etc. involved.
For a start, as has been mentioned by others, where do you believe that the air leaks around sockets/switched are leaking to? Even in the case of outside walls (where only a relatively small proportion of switches/sockets are usually located), there should not be any significant 'air route' to the outside world. This is totally different from leaks around outside doors and windows etc.
More generally, unless one has an efficient heat-recovery system, it would seem that the advantages of making a house 'air tight' are nearly always going to be largely negated by the need for ventilation. Do I take it that your ventilation does, or will, incorporate a heat recovery system?
If that's true, it sounds as if there is something wrong with the construction of your home and/or the installation of your electrical accessories. As above, with the possible exception of light fittings on top floor ceilings, there really should not be a route to the outside world (hence 'wind' etc.) from the position of a switch or socket.
Kind Regards, John
That's a rubbish analogy. The pressure differential is the thing causing the balloon to rapidly deflate. Unrelated to any heat loss through socket backboxes.
Sponsored Links
Yes, it's daft isn't it. One part of the building regs requires air tightness, and another part requires adding holes to deal with the problem that lack of ventilation causes.
Often a lot of air movement can be detected when loosening faceplates on or near outside walls.
This tends to be around metal boxes on dot and dab walls.
And on ashlar walls on loft conversions or rooms built into the sloping roof.
This tends to be around metal boxes on dot and dab walls.
And on ashlar walls on loft conversions or rooms built into the sloping roof.
Are you implying that the outside walls themselves are not ''air-tight'? If air can move through the wall (in either direction) between the outside world and the interior of the building, what about rain etc.?
Kind Regards, John
Don't know, never thought about it all in great detail.
I can't say I really have, either - but if I removed a faceplate of an accessory and found 'wind' blowing out of the hole (something I've never experienced), I think I would worry about the integrity of the structure of the building.
Kind Regards, John
When I've noticed air movement/draughts behind sockets in say a loft conversion, I just assumed it was it was coming in from under the roof tiles - but 'not my problem' so there it ends with me!
In recent years, ashlar walls and other areas get very heavily insulated, with fewer gaps.
Been on a job where the place has had an air test which failed, and the main developer has tried to 'blame' us (unsuccessfully) for not sealing every hole round back boxes and that. This being about 7 years or so ago. Now that company use their own blokes to go around sealing up before the 2nd fix, using about 100 tubes of sealant.
In recent years, ashlar walls and other areas get very heavily insulated, with fewer gaps.
Been on a job where the place has had an air test which failed, and the main developer has tried to 'blame' us (unsuccessfully) for not sealing every hole round back boxes and that. This being about 7 years or so ago. Now that company use their own blokes to go around sealing up before the 2nd fix, using about 100 tubes of sealant.
If it's a hollow wall whose cavity is in continuity with the roof space, then that's a possibility. However, you were talking about 'outside walls', which I assumed would usually be solid masonry (at least, the inside leaf, if a cavity wall).
Kind Regards, John
I would assume it's travelling through the voids behind dot and dab plasterboard, but where it gets in I couldn't say.
A lot of modern blockwork seems to be thrown up with gaps in the mortar, if that could contribute to it.
I would assume it's travelling through the voids behind dot and dab plasterboard, but where it gets in I couldn't say.
A lot of modern blockwork seems to be thrown up with gaps in the mortar, if that could contribute to it.
That's what I thought you meant - but, as you sort-of suggest, those voids should not be in continuity with the putside world.
Another possibility - but, again, one would hope that there would not be corresponding 'holes' in the outside leaf of the wall (most usually brick).
However, I think this is probably all getting a bit silly. Is it not possible for at least some of us to agree that, no matter what (very small), if any, 'air leaks' there may be around electrical accessories, in terms of heat loss from a house these fade into total insignificance in comparison with the more obvious, and much larger, mechanisms of heat loss?
Kind Regards, John
It's not just a modern phenomena. I remember dad telling me how he was looking at houses (before I was born, and that's over half a century ago) and before plastering & rendering he could clearly see daylight through the outside walls. I assume it would mostly be the perpendiculars, since the beds would mostly be continuous - it taking more work to leave gaps in the beds than to not.
DIYnot Local
Staff member
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.
Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.
Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local
Sponsored Links
