When do you get your highest heating bill?
Sometime in the near future, right.
Cold air drafts are one reason you write checks for $300 or $400.
PAINFUL.
Don’t worry, I’m in the same boat. Our front door leaks cold air all day long.
Today I’ve got 3 easy insulation tips that could help you stay warm this winter.
Plus there’s a another cool giveaway. So don’t miss out 😀
My first introduction to DIY spray foam insulation was in high school.
A friend threw a punctured can of Great Stuff into his buddy’s locker.
The locker was stuffed with foam insulation the next.
Not exactly the most pleasant site for the locker owner.
Although I have to admit this was a pretty creative prank (please don’t credit me if you try the same stunt, I’ve never been in jail and would like to keep it that way).
Today’s 3 insulation tips could help you instantly lower your heating bills.
They’re all easy to do and don’t cost much.
Sweet!!
Here’s your supply list
- Great Stuff DIY Foam Insulation ($3-$6 in the store)
- Venom Nitrile Gloves ($17 for box of 100)
- Protective Eyewear ($5 or FREE)
- Utility Knife ($5 or FREE)
- Johns Manville or Roxul Insulation ($35 to $48)
- Dust Mask or Respirator ($7 or FREE)
- Electric Outlet Sealers by Frost King ($2-$4)
- Screwdrivers ($7 or FREE)
- These Amazon Links help support HRT…so, many thanks when you use them
With the supply list out of the way let’s dive into Great Stuff and see how you can use it in your home 😀
Great Stuff is the best DIY Spray Foam
How many gaps or cracks exist in your home?
If you’re like me you see them every day.
Kinda troubling to say the least.
There are 4 varieties of Great Stuff I’ll discuss.
Each one has a very specific application and gives you options.
Here are some suggestions as to where to use Great Stuff
- HVAC Ductwork going to ceilings or walls (within unfinished garages and basements)
- Sill Plates that sit on concrete or cinder blocks
- Basement and Crawl space drafts
- Areas prone to pest entry
- TV cable entry points
Gaps & Cracks can be used for gaps up to 1 inch.
What if you have gaps greater than 2 inches (I realize there’s some comedy in this statement but let’s keep things family friendly).
You can use Big Gap Filler.
It’s basically the same thing as Gaps & Cracks but expands much more.
I’m thinking this is what my buddy used in the locker prank, or at least this is the one I would have chosen.
What should you use for insulating doors or windows?
You’re in luck, you can get Great Stuff Window & Door.
This is a better option than the standard Gap & Crack filler because Window & Door stays flexible.
Flexibility is super important for windows and doors because the framing will expand and contract when temperatures or humidity change.
This is the type of Great Stuff I used on my door in today’s video tutorial and you’ll see how easy it is to use.
If you’ve got pest issues (i.e. spiders, ants, roaches…) you might want to try Pestblock.
This is foam insulation with bitter ingredient in it.
After some research I discovered the bitter ingredient is actually denatonium benzoate.
WAIT, this sounds scary!!!
But don’t be scared.
Denatonium benzoate is used to discourage the consumption of poisonous things like antifreeze, denatured alcohol, and acetone.
It’s ultra bitter and because of this quality helps deter pests.
Cool stuff.
Sheldon from Big Bang Theory would be proud.
Although he’d also add two more paragraphs on denatonium benzoate’s cool factor.
Read the directions thoroughly and try to fill an gaps only 1/2 way with Great Stuff because it will expand to fill the other 1/2 of the gap.
Shake the can for 60 seconds before using it and try to apply Great Stuff when it’s warmish (yes this is a technical term I created) outside, which means above 40F.
Wear gloves and safety glasses when using Great Stuff.
I’ve gotten it on my hands and it’s not fun.
Check out the video for my two bonus tips on how to stop drafts.
I’m pretty sure anyone can do what I did in the video
What’s Next
Spray foam is great but we recommend using Roxul for bigger projects, e.g. bathrooms or basements.
If you’re doing a bathroom remodel and need help, join one of our online courses – they’ll make your bathroom renovation much easier!
Let me know if you have any questions and I’ll do my best to help.
Thanks as always for reading, watching, and being part of our awesome community.
Cheers,
Jeff
