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KisukesBankai t1_itjtgwq wrote

Reply to comment by --Ty-- in General Feedback/Getting Started Questions and Answers [Weekly Thread] by AutoModerator

Thanks! but what about the leaking air through the socket itself (coming from the hole for the wires in the back of the box)

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AKdgaf t1_itjy81c wrote

We use fire caulk in an industrial setting often, it seals drafts and is required to maintain a ratings on some firewalls, there is also fire rated expanding foam available. Depending on the type of gangboxes you have installed even the unused knockouts (perforated or thinned spots for cables to enter the box) could be allowing air transfer and you'd want to cover those if that's the case. You don't want to fill the box itself, it'll make future work impossible and while caulk itself is typically not conductive, the moisture before it cures is. Duck brand among others also make sealing kits for the front of outlets that you can pick up at most hardware stores or online.

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KisukesBankai t1_itmcmxl wrote

Ah those kits still just seal around the socket, where my issue is air coming through the socket itself. Looks like I'll have to stick with baby proof style socket plugs.

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AKdgaf t1_itmj30e wrote

While you typically would seal the outside, If you only have access to the inside of the outlet and can pull the socket out of the box you should still be able to seal most of it with fire putty.yiu can see how it's typically used in these pics: https://imgur.com/a/qKRGx0n

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KisukesBankai t1_itmk42p wrote

That's super helpful, thanks. Yeah if it was just one I would consider going in the wall to get around outside the box but it's a bunch of outlets on various wall sections. So the fire putty is safe inside the box? Won't cause overheating or doesn't need air circulation?

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AKdgaf t1_itmy8i4 wrote

Gotcha, if all your outlets are letting in cold air, problem is more likely to be the insulation in the walls at the sill plates, that can be a much bigger and expensive fix. Sealing the outlets will help but is still a bandaid on the larger problem of cold air entering your walls somewhere. Personally I would still seal my outlets. In my own home where I know the outlets are terminated correctly and that my gfcis and breakers work and everything was installed correctly, I would have very little worry about using the putty on the inside of the outlet box. I'd still be sure to take up as little space as possible inside the box. I would focus on sealing where the wires enter the box which should eliminate the majority of the draft.

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KisukesBankai t1_itn8w4f wrote

Thank you. That may have to be the case as the light switches don't have an easy bandaid like the baby proof plugs. I'll look into the putty.

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