Can Takeout Containers Really Be A Safe DIY Solution For Drafty Houses?

As the weather starts to cool off, you might begin to notice some extra cold spots in your home, particularly around walls, windows, doors, and outlets. These are all areas where insulation issues or small gaps can allow cold air to seep into your home. Especially in older homes, insulation can deteriorate over time, and while it is most likely to occur around windows, outlets, and baseboards, it can happen anywhere in the home. If you easily check your windows and doors for drafts with this brilliant trick and find multiple problem areas, you may be worried about how much fixing your drafty home will cost. Some creative people with the same concern have tried out a DIY hack that involves using the Styrofoam from takeout containers. While the hack will save you some cash, it is not the safest solution.

The hack in question revolves around using Styrofoam takeout containers as an insulating material when fixing cracks and holes that are causing drafts. To some extent, this hack makes sense because Styrofoam is a very popular insulation material for building, and when you use a Styrofoam takeout container, it is basically a free material. It is easy to cut up and fill a gap or hole in the wall with, but there are some safety issues to consider. Unlike insulation materials created for use in the home, takeout containers do not contain fire retardants. Plus, some types of Styrofoam can release toxins over time that are harmful to your health.

Styrofoam is commonly used in buildings as an insulating material, and it has its benefits. It is budget-friendly, an effective insulator, and it works well in humid climates. Of course, this is for Styrofoam insulation, not takeout containers. When designed for use in construction, Styrofoam is treated with fire-proofing materials, and it is properly placed to reduce potential hazards. Styrofoam takeout containers, on the other hand, are often not even microwave-safe. These containers will quickly melt and may even catch on fire when exposed to high heat. Microwave-safe Styrofoam containers are designed to be more stable when heated, but these containers should not be microwaved if there are any cracks in the foam or other damage. Whether you cut microwave-safe Styrofoam to use as insulation or it just deteriorates over time, a microwave-safe label really does not translate to fire safety when used for construction.

In addition to the lack of fire-proofing treatment, Styrofoam takeout containers are made with polystyrene, which is labeled a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Because styrene can leach out of the Styrofoam at any temperature, there is concern that using Styrofoam as insulation might result in negative health consequences over time. So, although your takeout container may seem like a reasonable alternative to construction-grade insulation materials, it is really not the best choice. In a pinch, its insulating abilities may help you out, but it is not a safe long-term solution. 

Rather than relying on unsafe temporary solutions, you should research more about methods that are considered safe. For example, you can learn about whether DIY spray foam insulation kits are worth buying or if it is more worth it to hire a professional to upgrade your home's insulation. If you choose to go the DIY route, using canned foam insulation to fill gaps is effective, and you can also use foam outlet gaskets if the draft is coming from your outlets. Spray foam sealants can be purchased for as little as $4.48 at stores like Home Depot, and paying a few dollars for a safe and effective insulation solution seems well worth the price. When you factor in that untreated drafts can drive your heating costs up, fixing up areas of your home causing drafts could save you that money over time in reduced energy costs.

If your home still feels drafty, then rather than small fixes, it might be worth it to invest in upgrading your home's insulation. While this is not a DIY project and can cost a couple thousand dollars, investing in a more substantial and permanent fix can reduce strain on your HVAC system, make your home more comfortable, and reduce the likelihood of problems like mold in the future. If you are not sure whether you can give your home a DIY fix using a safe material like canned foam insulation or if you need a larger fix, check out the three signs you need to replace your home's insulation.