Spent 3 years chasing a draft in my living room, turns out it was a $15 dollar fix

I've been dealing with a cold draft coming from my living room wall since 2020. Sealed every window, re-caulked the baseboards, even pulled off trim to look for gaps. Last week my neighbor who does HVAC work stopped by and pointed at the electrical outlet on an exterior wall. He pulled the cover off and there was a huge gap around the box. Stuffed some foam gaskets behind the cover plate and the draft is gone. I feel like an idiot for not checking something so simple. Has anyone else found a hidden draft from somewhere dumb like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

carr.blake2d ago

Outlet drafts are the silent killers of home comfort. Found the same thing in my house after a year of blaming the windows. Feels ridiculous when it's a two dollar fix.

williamschmidt1d ago

Friend of mine spent months freezing before a neighbor told him it was the outlets.