cold air from back of baseboards, 8-10 degree difference

2 years ago

I need suggestions. we recently moved into a new 2023 built home in december. inspection is done in Novemebr and no hot or cold spots found since it is high 70's. this is a inventory home and we are allowed only final inspection before closing

why we are seeing cold drafts from back of the baseboards and this is around the house where walls are facing exteriror walls.

we got blower door test done in February 2024, because we cannot find why cold air is coming into home.

Airleaks and a temeprature difference of 8-10 degrees found near the baseboards and outside smells are coming into home when doors and windows are closed. this is in Dallas,

attaching photos I got from builder.

1) before insulation -

2) after insulation

3) after drywall

4) FLIR pic showinf cold spots, this is the case all over the home with exteriro walls

Notes from blower door test - Energy Audit tasks completed:

1. Blowerdoor Test. National Average for new build homes is an ACH (Air Changeovers per Hour) of 3.1 - 3.6

Test Completed showing the home to be at a 3.89 ACH. This is an above average score for a brand new home less than a year old.

Home volume: 20,380 cu. ft. Home area: 2038 sq. ft.

2. Physical inspection of the attic and insulation levels: Average 14" depth (R-42) of Owens Corning L77

loose-fill fiberglass insulation. Insulation was disturbed in areas where workers had to comeback to the home to complete the building process or repairs. Insulation was not re-leveled leaving portions of the ceiling susceptible to outdoor temperatures.

3. Infra-red and regular photographs taken simultaneously of areas the homeowners had concerns of being too cold.

A: Infra-red pictures revealed that the exterior home walls are properly and completely insulated.

B: Infra-red pictures also reveal in areas of concern that cold air is penetrating the home by the base of the wall and causing a 7-10 degree difference from the average room temperature in the house.

please suggest what should I ask my builder or warranty department since this is 2 1/2 month old home

Featured Answer

mojavemaria

2 years ago

It is normal for drywall to be installed a half inch short of floor to allow for expansion and to keep any moisture from wicking up if floor is wet. Fiberglass batt insulation doesn't stop air infiltration and since the baseplates are sealed with polyseal foam I wonder if you are getting air through where the white (tvek, foam board?) and the black product meet.

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Comments (11)

millworkman
2 years ago
Sill seal insulation used? Typically concrete foundation is not flat and there are gaps between the concrete and the sill plate (which gets shimmed). Depending on the quality of the concrete mason there could be a ton of shims and the fact that this is a "inventory" house means developer or tract style house that is not know for the attention to detail.
HU-326131210 thanked millworkman
HU-326131210
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you for your response. looks like they used spray faom on edges. in the 1st pic, I dont see any foam and in 2nd pic there is thin line of foam.
- 3rd pic - they didnot seal drywall to the floor. there is a gap between drywall and floor and they left it like it.
- is this the cause for airleaks? please help
1)

2)

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millworkman
2 years ago
"is this the cause for airleaks? please help"

Possibly. Can't tell from here for sure. But you have cold air coming in at the base board. Is it at the walls with without the insulation or sealing at the concrete?
HU-326131210
Original Author
2 years ago
it is at walls with insualtion, but draft comes from below the baseboards.
millworkman
2 years ago
" they didnot seal drywall to the floor. there is a gap between drywall and floor and they left it like it. "

" but draft comes from below the baseboards. "

I think you answered your own question.
HU-326131210 thanked millworkman
HU-326131210
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
@millworkman @mojavemaria how to identify the issue and what can be done to rectify this issue. any suggestions.

this is how the black sheet is wrapped
mojavemaria
2 years ago
If under 4 air exchanges an hour falls within mandated standards at the time of the build then the builder is unlikely to do anything. Maybe you could take some baseboard trim off and see if you can feel where air is coming from and use caulk or polyseal foam to seal it. How tight do you want your house? Unless you have a makeup air system it could be unhealthy to have too tight a house. Imagine trying to live in a plastic bag.
HU-326131210
Original Author
2 years ago
issue we are facing is, cold air is leaking into home from baseboards and bedrooms are getting too cold. when we set thermostat at 73, bedrooms stays at 65-66. so we have to use space heaters.

same with living area, we can feel cold air at feet and above ankles when we stand near the wall. this is all around the home with rooms having exteriro walls.

we got hvac independednt contractor to check if hvac is causing the issue, they saidd they are not seeing anything and all looks good.

and main conern is - bedroom smells dusty, outside smell, or a truck running for few minutes outside home, smell is seeping into home. windows and doors are all closed
HU-867564120
2 years ago
About all you can do now is pull the baseboards and caulk the drywall to the floor to seal the leak.
HU-326131210 thanked HU-867564120
HU-326131210
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
this is a 2 1/2 months old brand new home by tayor morrison under warranty.

and crazy thing is outside smell from neighbours like bbq or truck fumes coming into home along with heacy drop in temperatures.