I totally get the cautious approach—I did something similar when I sealed around my recessed lights a couple years back. My house isn't quite as vintage (built in the early 80s), but still old enough to make me second-guess every little DIY project.
I went with the high-temp silicone too, mostly because a friend of mine had a bit of a scare using regular silicone. Nothing catastrophic, thankfully, but he noticed it started discoloring and getting brittle after just a few months. He ended up redoing the whole thing with the heat-resistant stuff anyway, so I figured I'd skip that step and just do it right from the start.
Funny enough, I was also paranoid about checking on it constantly at first. I remember standing on a ladder at midnight, flashlight in hand, convinced I'd smell smoke or something. Of course, nothing happened... but hey, peace of mind is priceless, right?
And speaking of attic doors—foam weatherstripping is great, but if you really want to level up your insulation game, consider adding one of those insulated attic door covers. They're basically like little tents that fit over the attic hatch from above. I installed one last winter and was genuinely surprised by how much warmer the hallway felt afterward. Plus, they're pretty affordable and easy to install—took me maybe half an hour tops.
Anyway, congrats on hitting 20 years with your HVAC! That's impressive longevity. Mine's pushing 15 now and I'm crossing my fingers it'll hold out a bit longer...
Gotta say, I'm impressed your HVAC made it to 20 years, but honestly...isn't that pushing your luck a bit? Mine was around 17 when it finally kicked the bucket, and trust me, replacing it mid-winter wasn't fun. Also, about those attic door covers—tried one myself, didn't notice much difference. Maybe I installed it wrong (wouldn't be the first time), but foam weatherstripping did more for me. Just my two cents though, your mileage may vary.
Mine just hit 22 years and still chugging along, but I admit it's probably on borrowed time. When we bought our historic place, the HVAC was already halfway through its lifespan. I figured I'd squeeze maybe 5 more years out of it, tops...yet here we are. Totally agree about the foam weatherstripping—cheap and surprisingly effective. Attic covers never did much for me either, although insulating the attic itself made a noticeable difference. Maybe worth a shot if you're chasing improvements bit by bit.
"Attic covers never did much for me either, although insulating the attic itself made a noticeable difference."
I second this. Attic insulation is one of those upgrades that doesn't seem exciting at first glance but pays off steadily over time. When we moved into our older home, the HVAC was already pushing 18 years, and I thought we'd be replacing it within a year or two. Surprisingly, with regular filter changes and annual maintenance checks, it's still running smoothly at 24 years. One thing I've found helpful is sealing ductwork joints with mastic sealant—it's inexpensive and reduces air leaks significantly. Foam weatherstripping around doors and windows definitely helps too, but don't overlook sealing electrical outlets and switch plates on exterior walls. It's a small detail, yet you'd be surprised how much draftiness it can eliminate. At this point, every little bit counts to keep these older systems running efficiently...
You're definitely doing something right if your HVAC is still kicking at 24 years. Ours hit 22 before we finally replaced it, and honestly, sealing ducts made a huge difference for us too. One thing I'd add—check your attic hatch itself. Ours was leaking air like crazy until we added some foam weatherstripping around the edges. Cheap fix, noticeable improvement. Little things really do add up over time...
