Drafty Bedroom
We live in a semi-detached brick house on the 1st floor. The master bedroom is in the front of the house and has a total of 5 windows (3 covering most of the front and 2 on side). It is cold and drafty during the winter. When we open the bedroom door, you can feel…
We live in a semi-detached brick house on the 1st floor. The master bedroom is in the front of the house and has a total of 5 windows (3 covering most of the front and 2 on side). It is cold and drafty during the winter. When we open the bedroom door, you can feel the arctic draft blowing to the living room. This past summer, we upgraded the windows and closed one of the side windows. Unfortunately we feel this did not help.
I’m not sure where the source of the draft is coming from. Is there a contractor or specialist that can be hired to locate the draft? Any leads would be greatly appreciated.
Invest in the “Thermal Leak Detector” You will be able to pinpoint the drafts pretty easily and address with spray foam or whatever is appropriate.
thermal leak detectors are $29 at Lowe’s
The front part of the master bedroom (7ft) I presume use to be a porch and what the owner did was extended it on the 1st floor and right above it they made a balcony. The floor is also cooler in the front of the bedroom since its concrete while the back of the bedroom is the basement. The draft seems to be mostly coming out the floor molding of the front side, not the window area. On the 2 power outlets on the front side of the bedroom, I can feel a draft on the outlet plug itself.
In addition to above, who/what is underneath you? A tenant? A cellar? You could have a hatch cover, dry well or fresh air supply to boiler that’s draughting cold air into the building from beneath. Or, if you’ve got one, a door under the stoop that is not being kept tightly closed.
Yes, it does not sound like the windows surrounds are sealed. Pull the trim off on one and check it out. You will be amazed how much draft can come though something that appears to be all covered up.
first thing i would suspect is the window frames themselves. many times they are simply shimmed and not insulated.
why not invest in an infrared gun and lost look for yourself where the cold air is coming in? that way you can do the same for the rest of your house.
even if you need to call in a professional because its beyond your skill (or desire) level, i feel that its nice to do your own audit first, and call the contractors later.
Black & Decker sells a “Thermal Leak Detector” on amazon for $55.
I don’t think of my place as drafty at all but I can definitely see my curtains moving when it is windy out. It is cold enough now that you ought to be able to feel around for the source of the draft. Check under doors and at grates/vents, too.
You should cover the remaining windows that you did not replace with plastic. If that doesnt work you should look into whether the walls of that room are properly insulated.
In many older buildings there isnt any insulation in the walls. In the other rooms of the house that face your neighbor’s house the cold isnt a problem because your neighbors house and their heat is essentially acting like insulation for those rooms.
You could start with the energy audit but I am pretty sure this is the reason the room is so cold even after replacing windows.
National Grid is offering low cost home engery audits for their customers. You can also check the NYSERDA website.