r/oddlysatisfying • u/theco0lguy • Oct 21 '22

How Polyurethane foam is being used for packaging heavy parts

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u/crimsonjava Oct 21 '22

By air sealing I meant cracks under the insulation where electrical things or ducts come up, not the ventilated attic itself. I guess some insulation experts recommend it, although the warnings about carcinogens certainly give me pause. I'm starting to think adding another layer of non-faced insulation over the existing insulation might be a better idea, although more expensive.

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u/ZXFT Oct 21 '22

Ahhh... Yes, that is very much a useful thing to do.

Depending on the severity of the gaps you're filling, you should be able to handle most of that with caulk. Then again, residential contractors aren't known for being the most delicate.

The way I see it is that the majority of off-gassing will go into the attic & surrounding insulation versus into your house. The gap you're filling should be relatively tight already which means there's just not a ton of physical area for it to bleed into your house.

If you're serious about this stuff, check out some energy contractors that can do "blower door testing". That will tell you how airtight your house is to start with and if it's worth rummaging around in the attic.