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Airseal but still have a draft from basement

user-1107451 | Posted in Green Building Techniques on

Since I found you guys Ive airsealed my attic and ducts.
I cheaped out our unfinished basement airseal/insulation with foam xps 1″ foam sealed edges and r19 batt, the basement will be sealed with rigid foam and plywood eventually as we need the space.
Ive also chalked the baseplate perimeter to the foundation.
I have a Weil Gold cgi with some form of mechanical blower from the side of the boiler outside assuming the air draft is coming in from this as I dont think it opens or closes just starts when the furnace is on
Once thats done, Ill be putting an extra R22 of cellulose in the attic and garage roof as well as garage perimeters so should tighten things up and cost me less to run, both cost and infrastructure wear and tear so longer lasting (still will have to look at the cost of putting in a high efficiency gas boiler 95% verses 83 currently)
Any ideas?

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Replies

  1. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | | #1

    Darren,
    1. If you are still feeling drafts from your basement, it probably means that you haven't sealed all of your air leaks. To locate air leaks, you can use a blower door or a theatrical fog machine. Here's more information on these options:

    Blower Door Basics

    Pinpointing Leaks With a Fog Machine

    2. As far as I know, the Weil-McLain Gold CGi is a boiler, not a furnace. I'm not sure what device you are referring to when you describe "some form of mechanical blower" attached to the Weil-McLain boiler.

  2. user-1107451 | | #2

    Here is a look at this blower. This basically goes up then a 90 and vents outside, but I dont think it has a flue or anything to close when not in use.
    Ive downloaded the NYSerda form to get the free home audit, the only issue I have with pulling the trigger is that am I then forced to do an upgrade specified by the auditor.
    Ive read about the fog machine on GBA too but Id like anyones feedback on having these audits done and if you were forced to follow their upgrades
    Thanks

  3. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | | #3

    Darren,
    Your boiler is power-vented. That is the flue.

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