Expanding foam is a bit of a wild card for me. First time I tried it, I definitely overdid it and ended up with a giant blob oozing out around the pipe—took longer to clean up than to seal the gap. Now I tape off the area and do short bursts, then walk away before I get tempted to add more. It’s weird how much that stuff expands... patience is key, but I still mess it up sometimes.
That expanding foam is no joke—gets everywhere if you’re not careful. I’ve had to chisel it off pipes before, and it’s a pain. Have you tried the low-expansion stuff? I find it gives a bit more control, especially in tighter spots. Curious if you’ve noticed any difference in insulation after sealing those gaps? Sometimes I wonder if all that effort really pays off in energy savings...
That expanding foam is no joke—gets everywhere if you’re not careful. I’ve had to chisel it off pipes before, and it’s a pain. Have you tried the low-expansion stuff? I find it gives a bit more control, especially in tighter spots. Curious if you’ve noticed any difference in insulation after sealing those gaps? Sometimes I wonder if all that effort really pays off in energy savings...
Yeah, I hear you on the expanding foam mess. The first time I used the regular stuff, I underestimated how much it’d grow—ended up with this weird blob behind my washing machine that took forever to clean up. Definitely learned my lesson there. The low-expansion type is way easier to handle, especially around outlets or those narrow gaps by the baseboards.
About whether it actually saves money… I was skeptical too, honestly. But after sealing up some of the bigger gaps (especially around the old storm windows and where the pipes go through the basement wall), my heating bill dropped a bit last winter. Not like, cut in half or anything, but enough that I noticed. It’s hard to say if it was *just* because of the foam or a combo of that plus new weatherstripping and being more stingy with the thermostat.
One thing I did notice: the house just felt less drafty. Before, you could actually feel a cold breeze under certain doors when it got windy—now it’s mostly gone. That’s worth something even if the savings aren’t huge.
Honestly though, there’s always something else that could use sealing or fixing up. Sometimes I wonder if it ever ends… but at least now I don’t have to wear two pairs of socks inside all winter. That’s a win in my book.
Also, random tip: if you ever get that foam on your hands, don’t wait to wash it off. That stuff sets like concrete if you leave it too long—learned that one the hard way too.
One thing I did notice: the house just felt less drafty. Before, you could actually feel a cold breeze under certain doors when it got windy—now it’s mostly gone. That’s worth something even if the savings aren’t huge.
That’s exactly it—sometimes it’s not about the bill dropping by a ton, but just not freezing your toes off every time there’s a gust outside. I’ve done my fair share of chasing drafts, especially in old basements. The low-expansion foam is a lifesaver around copper pipes and tight corners, but I still manage to get some on my hands every time... and yeah, once it dries, forget about it.
Funny thing, last winter I sealed up a couple spots behind the radiators where cold air was sneaking in. Didn’t think much of it at first, but after that, the rooms actually stayed warm without cranking the heat so high. It’s like you said—probably a combo of little fixes adding up.
One thing I’ll say though: sometimes folks go overboard and seal up spots that actually need to breathe (like near certain vents). Learned that lesson after getting some condensation issues. Gotta find that balance between sealing drafts and letting things vent where they’re supposed to.
