Title: Dealing With Itchy Pink Nightmare In My Attic
That’s the thing with old houses—patch one hole and two more show up. You’re on the right track, though. I always tell folks, start with the big obvious gaps, then work your way down to the sneaky ones behind trim or knee walls. The pink stuff only works as well as your air sealing does, so you’re not wrong there. Don’t get discouraged if it takes a few rounds; even pros miss spots sometimes. One trick I use is to go back on a windy day and feel for drafts by hand—sometimes that works better than smoke pencils in tight spots.
One trick I use is to go back on a windy day and feel for drafts by hand—sometimes that works better than smoke pencils in tight spots.
Funny you mention that—last winter, I crawled up there with a flashlight and a box fan blowing at the hatch. Ended up finding a cold breeze sneaking in behind an old chimney chase I’d never even noticed before. The pink stuff (and the itch...) didn’t do much until I hit that with some foam and caulk. It’s wild how many of those little gaps you miss the first time. Sometimes I wonder if the house is just making new ones when I’m not looking.
I swear, houses have a mind of their own when it comes to drafts. I did the same thing with a box fan and a thermal camera app on my phone—thought I’d sealed everything, but nope. Found a gap hiding behind some old insulation near the soffit. The pink stuff is like glitter; gets everywhere and never seems to actually stop the cold unless you go full detective mode. I keep thinking I’ve finally got it all sealed... then another cold spot shows up. Maybe that’s just homeownership?
Title: Dealing with itchy pink nightmare in my attic
Thermal cameras really expose how sneaky air leaks are. I’ve found the “pink stuff” loses effectiveness if it’s compressed or damp, and sometimes it’s just not enough on its own. Have you tried using spray foam to seal those weird gaps around the soffit? I’ve seen that area cause headaches even in new builds. Always feels like there’s a hidden draft waiting to show up... ever checked behind electrical boxes or plumbing vents?
Honestly, the pink stuff is the bane of my existence right now. I crawled up there thinking I’d just fluff it up and be done, but nope—found a cold draft behind one of the bathroom vents. Ended up using a can of spray foam and made a mess, but at least it’s sealed (I think). Still not convinced I got every gap though... those soffit corners are like black holes for air leaks. Anyone else feel like you need three arms to reach some of these spots?