A draft can quickly cool a house, no matter how well your heating system is running. If you’ve ever wondered why your house is so drafty, the causes are easy to determine. Solutions can be as simple as adding foam insulation or installing an outlet seal.

Here are 10 solutions from contractors and weatherization experts for repairing a drafty home.

Outlet Leaks

Electrical outlets are hidden causes of drafts, says Randi Bujnovsky of Duck Brand, a supplier of weatherproofing products.

Fix it

Outlet seals are a simple, quick fix, and you don’t need to be an electrician to install them, says Bujnovsky.

“Just put one behind the outlet or the outer cover of the switch faceplate to get a good fit between the wall and the faceplate, stopping drafts,” says Bujnovsky.

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Gapped Floorboards

Drafts can seep in between gaps in floorboards, says contractor Docia Boylen. This is a common problem in older houses with empty floorboards or inadequate flooring.

Fix it

The solution to drafty floorboards is to add rugs, says Boylen. Carpets are instant insulation that take minutes to unroll.

Leaky Penetrations

Houses are pierced by a variety of penetrations, including outdoor water faucets, bathroom exhaust pipes, chimneys, chimneys and wires.

Many drafts come from improperly sealed vents, says Glenn Gault of Gault Heating & Cooling. They often remain unsealed during construction or the sealant has failed.

Fix it

Apply caulk or low-expansion foam insulation around larger openings where pipes or wires enter the wall.

Failed Insulation

Bad insulation installation can lead to drafts, according to Andrew LeggeCEO of sustainable insulation company Havelock Wool.

The insulation may be the wrong size for the wall cavity. Or, the vapor barrier may be improperly attached to the studs – or detached.

Fix it

One solution, Legge says, is to add insulation in places that are easily accessible: attics, crawl spaces and exposed walls.

For blown-in insulation in closed walls, have a professional add more insulation on top of the existing insulation.

Windows and doors

Doors and windows are one of the most common sources of drafts, says Bujnovsky.

Fix it

“By installing draft seals, homeowners can easily insulate their home and stop drafts,” says Bujnovsky.

This simple solution can have a dramatic impact on high energy bills, as it limits energy waste and minimizes the need to constantly adjust the thermostat upwards.

Attic Leaks

The attic is a major source of heat loss, says Gault. Heated air passes upwards through a poorly insulated or closed attic. Drafts can also pass downwards.

Fix it

“Go into the attic and look for openings around light fixtures, vents, and wires,” says Gault. Stop drafts by applying caulk or expanding foam to close these gaps from above.

Open the flap

The chimney quickly carries the smoke up and away from the house. It can do the reverse by bringing outside drafts into the house.

The problem may be that the fireplace damper is not closed or does not seal properly.

Fix it

Make sure the flap is closed, says Boylen. It is easy to forget that the damper is open after the fire is out.

If the damper is closed but still leaking, install a chimney balloon. A chimney balloon is an inflatable device that seals off the chimney and costs $25 to $45.

Recessed Lights

Recessed lights are a pathway for drafts in the home, according to Gault.

Recessed lights penetrate the ceiling, and the attic is usually less drafty and cooler than the level below.

Fix it

Install insulated, airtight covers directly over the appliances in the attic, says Gault. Or, install recessed lights labeled IC (Insulating Contact) so you can safely place attic insulation over the lights.

Empty water traps

Drafts can come from an unexpected source: sinks, showers, bathtubs or toilets. If the drafts smell faintly of sewage, it is likely that the drain siphons lack water.

The purpose of a drain trap is to create a water seal to prevent sewer gases from entering the home. Water may evaporate from the siphon if the device is not used for a while.

Fix it

Flush the toilet to fill the trap. For sinks, bathtubs and showers, run the water for about a minute to fill the siphon.

House Settling

“Older homes often have drafts because the foundation settles over time,” says Gault. “This creates cracks in the walls and around windows and doors, letting in cold air.”

Fix it

To fix drafts due to subsidence in the home, seal cracks in the foundation with flexible caulk and use expanding foam for large gaps.

BabyCenter series “Going Viral” unpacks parenting trends and separates the useful from the hype.

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A friend of mine recently received a baby shower invitation with unexpected instructions printed at the bottom: “This is a display shower. Please wrap in clean.” She ordered the gift as usual, but opted out of the additional wrapping services. On the day of the party, she taped a bow and a card to the box and placed it on the table among a collection of other unwrapped gifts. The entertainment was as expected – plenty of food and rumours. But the host never touched the gifts.

Some celebrate the idea of ​​an on-screen shower, while others miss the personal thanks of future initial gifts. As one mom in BabyCenter Community writes: “I feel like people are going to get bored watching me open presents. My mom is upset about this. What have you guys done? Do you think ‘shower on screen’ is rude to your guests? Just wanted some input on this .”

It’s a tough job – should moms acknowledge the effort and thought each guest puts into their gifts, or should moms be entitled to a baby shower they do you want? Here’s what an etiquette expert and three professional party planners think about the trend.

What is a display shower?

A baby shower is a party where instead of wrapping gifts for the parents-to-be to open in front of everyone, guests bring unwrapped gifts to display on the table where everyone can admire them at their leisure, says Laura Windsor, etiquette expert and founder Laura Windsor Etiquette AcademyOpens a new window.

The key difference between an expo baby shower and a traditional baby shower is that opening presents is no longer treated as an activity, freeing up more time for games and chatting – or just throwing a party with a shorter timeline. For moms-to-be who may feel a little shy, it also keeps them out of the spotlight during the unwrapping process.

Why are showers controversial?

Those who are against party showers think they’re leaving out one of the most important parts of the get-together: showing appreciation for the support your friends and family have given you. “I think presents should be opened in the shower so that the people who so graciously showered you and your baby with gifts have a chance to see you open them and thank them for the gift,” writes one BabyCenter mom.

On the other hand, many shower goers love the idea of ​​display showers because they eliminate what can be a long (and somewhat tedious) party. “I feel bad admitting it, but it can be so boring watching a mom open all her presents, especially if it’s a big baby shower,” says another Community member. “I’ve been to some showers with like 10 people, and that’s nice and sweet, but I’ve been to one with probably like 60 to 70 people, and it took me hours to look at her opening presents, and I think we were all a little bored until the end.”

Tell your guests to ‘please be nice and wrap yourself in clean.’

– Paula DeLuise, founder of The Best Day Ever Events

Windsor’s take on this conundrum: A screen shower doesn’t break any rules, but you’ll want to keep your guests in the loop about your plans. That’s because, while party etiquette and norms may change over time, manners remain the same: It’s all about making sure people feel valued and at ease, she says.

“If everyone is fully aware of what it means to have a baby shower and what’s involved, then there’s no reason why people shouldn’t feel comfortable,” she says. “That’s why it’s important to ask guests if they have any concerns or questions.”

The benefits of installing a screen shower

Here are some of the benefits of owning your own shower cubicle:

• You and your guests will not be bored. The number one concern among moms-to-be and their party hosts? Watching someone unwrap presents – as adorable as they are – gets boring.

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• You can avoid unwanted attention. “I hate a lot of attention and have always wanted just a relaxed time with family and friends that doesn’t involve opening presents, baby shower games, and all that fuss,” one mom writes to BabyCenter.

• It creates a more relaxed environment. Some argue that it is more fun to host and attend an exhibition shower or other non-traditional shower. “I went to a few – two were in breweries,” adds another mom. “It’s so much fun, and it looks like a super fun and relaxed celebration that’s not super girly, just a fun hangout.”

• Saves guests time and money. Not only is the event itself shorter, but it also requires less money and less time to wrap and add gifts.

• Gifts become part of the decoration. “Displayed gifts often create a visually appealing setting, enhancing the aesthetics of the event,” says Melissa Fife of Events from MissyOpens a new window.

Disadvantages of installing a shower

If you’re considering a walk-in shower, anticipate these potential drawbacks:

• Opening presents is a heartwarming part of the event. “Seeing the little boots, overalls, and sentimental gifts—and the reactions and emotions of the guest of honor and grandmothers—is unforgettable,” says Renee Patrone Rhinehart, founder and CEO. Party Host HelpersOpens a new window. Fife agrees, adding that it’s less intimate and potentially awkward to skip the opening gifts because you’ll miss the opportunity to connect with each guest and show them your appreciation.

• It’s easy to lose tags or cards. Without traditional packaging, you may lose track of who brought what. Guests can also forget the card, which presents another challenge for the host and guest of honor, who will have to write lots thank you note after that.

• It is less wasteful, but not necessarily environmentally friendly. You can argue that display showers don’t involve paper and other unnecessary packaging, but if people opt for a clear plastic material like cellophane, display showers aren’t exactly an environmentally conscious alternative, Windsor warns.

How to throw a shower

If you end up having an exhibition baby shower, it takes a little extra effort. To prepare for this type of event, here are some expert- and mom-approved tips:

Provide clear instructions in the invitation

Include shower-specific lettering on your printed or digital invitations. “Make sure the host explains the concept to all guests when sending out invitations, with a note welcoming any questions or concerns,” says Windsor. “You can also cite positives due to the lack of an individual gift opening process, i.e. more time for socializing, meeting new people, more meaningful conversations, more time for activities (if any), for eating and having fun.”

You can also be creative with the way you word these invitations. “There are smart ways to tell your guests on your invitation that you want them to ‘please be nice and wrap clearly,'” says Paula DeLuise, Founder Best day everOpens a new window.

Set the display area

If you’re hosting a party, take some time to set up an area to display baby gifts. “The more space, the better,” says Rhinehart. “That way the gifts can be spread out and guests can still have a look.”

This section can serve as an extension of the party decor, and you can easily tie everything together with the same color palette and other recognizable details. “Designate a beautifully styled table or shelf for arranging gifts,” suggests Fife. “Use decorative elements like flowers, signs or themed props to enhance the setting.”

Find a way to connect and thank each guest, if possible

Take the time to personally reach out to each party guest to show your appreciation. If there are too many people to approach an event, Fife recommends holding what she calls a “moment of gratitude.”

“Even though the presents won’t be opened, the parents-to-be can still thank everyone together and maybe point out a few thoughtful or meaningful things,” she says. Of course, handwritten thank-you notes should always be sent after the celebration.

Create a system to track guests and their gifts

To avoid potential confusion, there are a few strategies that professionals suggest. Fife recommends giving guests small tags to label their gifts, Rhinehart says to keep stickers or index cards handy, and Windsor adds that you can assign a friend to write down who bought which gift upon arrival or even take a photo of each guest with their gift .

One of them LANGUAGE 10

– About 69 F-words and their derivatives, 3 sexual references, 36 scatological terms, 27 anatomical terms, 39 mild obscenities, 10 derogatory terms for African-Americans, name-calling (greedy, funky, raggedy, maniac, weird, stupid, stupid, trouble, dumbass, bum, homeless boy, dusty, miserable, jerks, hot moms, younger crazy, crazy, hipster, typical, big boot, fat, kinky, whore, bully, (F-word deleted) – boy, trap), exclamations (calm down, shut up, watch out, you gotta have faith, pull yourself together, am I you (deleted word on F) kidding), 6 religious expletives (GD), 13 religious exclamations (eg God, he loves the Lord, I swear to God, God heals everything, Jesus, oh my God, send a prayer). | glossary of profanity |

Videos and photos

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  The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939)
  The official trailer
  

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What is the story?

In London, the great detective and his companion dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) is consulted by a country doctor who fears for the safety of aristocratic Sir Henry Baskerville (Richard Greene) when he arrives to inherit a rich family estate on the Devonshire Moors. Family legend claims that a monstrous phantom hound is coming to kill all the males of the Baskervilles, but Holmes notes that someone very real also seems to be following Sir Henry around London with sinister intent. Holmes sends Watson to look after Sir Henry in the eerie countryside, where a menacing, ragged man lurks amid the old ruins and people have indeed heard a dog howl in the night.

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Is it good?

Our review:

Parents say :
Not rated yet

Child viewers raised on fancy CGI monsters might expect more from the hideous dog when it finally appears, although the vicious dog up close makes for little excitement. Anyway, it’s Basil Rathbone who is the main special effect.

This version The Hound of the Baskervilles was a box office hit, and Rathbone and Bruce would go on to reprise the iconic roles through more than a dozen films that followed, which — after the outbreak of World War II — made an inexplicable time jump that placed Holmes in the 20th century in fight against German spies! Most critics rate this as the best. It’s not too long, it’s nicely atmospheric, and it doesn’t make Nigel Bruce’s Watson an overly complicated comedian, as the later films in the series did (Watson in the stories is actually quite intelligent).

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Talk to your kids about…

• Families can discuss Holmes and his famous methods of solving problems through logical deduction and observation. How can these methods be used in other fields?

• Ask the children if they know of the many actors who have played Sherlock Holmes. who is the favorite? documentary, The Many Faces of Sherlock Holmesmay be additional viewing.

• Talk about Basil Rathbone, and how, when he wasn’t playing Holmes (in movies, on radio, in audio recordings), it was common to play bad guys. As an expert swordsman, he didn’t need a doppelganger to stand up to the hero in the swashbucklers. Can you think of any modern actors who have made the leap from action bad guy to good guy?

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Did we miss something about diversity?

Research shows a connection between children’s healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in the media. That’s why we’ve added a new “Different Representations” section to our reviews, which will be published continuously. You can help us help children
proposing a diversity update.