I totally get what you mean about the dust—when we finished insulating our place last fall, I was shocked at how much more dust seemed to settle everywhere. Not sure if it’s just me noticing it more because I’m paying attention, or if the trickle vents are actually pulling in more stuff from outside. Either way, I’d take a little extra dusting over that weird, clammy feeling any day.
Funny thing is, before we did the insulation, I was always freezing and still had condensation on the windows. Now, it’s way cozier, and the air just feels fresher. I was worried it’d get too airtight and stuffy, but those vents really do make a difference. They’re not perfect, but like you said, better than opening a window and letting all the heat out. If anyone’s on the fence about sealing up their house, I’d say it’s worth the hassle, even if you have to invest in a better vacuum...
If anyone’s on the fence about sealing up their house, I’d say it’s worth the hassle, even if you have to invest in a better vacuum...
Couldn’t agree more on the trade-off. In my experience, the key is balancing insulation with ventilation—trickle vents are a good start, but sometimes adding a basic air purifier helps with that extra dust. I’ve seen folks get nervous about making things “too tight,” but honestly, as long as you’ve got some airflow, you’re golden. Cozier and no more shivering at night… I’ll take a bit of extra cleaning for that any day.
I get the appeal of “cozier and no more shivering at night,” but I’ve found with my old place that going too far with sealing can backfire. Once I did a major weatherstripping job, and suddenly I was dealing with condensation on the windows and a weird musty smell in the closets.
That’s the trick, but in these drafty older homes, sometimes those “drafts” are what keep things from getting damp and stuffy. I guess I’d say, don’t underestimate how much character (and accidental ventilation) these old houses have built in.“as long as you’ve got some airflow, you’re golden.”
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from, but I think it’s less about leaving the drafts and more about adding controlled ventilation. When I sealed up my 1920s bungalow, I put in a small bathroom vent fan on a timer—helped with the musty smells and no more shivering at night. Those old “leaks” aren’t really a feature, just a workaround for lack of airflow.
I had a similar experience when we did our attic insulation—sealed up all the weird gaps, then realized the house felt stuffy. Ended up installing an HRV system, which honestly made a huge difference. Have you noticed any impact on humidity or condensation since adding the fan? That was our big issue at first.
