Re: Dodge the Draft!

Hi Nichoel

We have a front bedroom over the front entrance that was quite cold.  

Last weekend I took down the 3X8 feet of soffit over the door, removed the insulation and uncovered the large slash that had been made in the vapour barrier to accommodate  the bathroom exhaust vent.  A case of one trade (vent installer) messing up the work of the insulation installers.

I mention this because it is not the first time that I've found poorly insulated overhanging floors responsible for dramatic heat loss.  Fiberglass insulation has no  insulation value unless it has a air barrier on each side of it.  Without a continuous vapor barrier on one side and a sealed up skin on the outside, fiberglass provides no more insulation than a furnace filter.  The air barrier on the outside should be porous to water vapour so moisture can escape to the outside.  Tyvex is designed for this.

Often these kinds of leaks are not obvious, but if it's cold there is something wrong and its worth taking it apart.  If nothing else you can upgrade whatever insulation was installed 10 years ago.