Installation Guide

Insulating Around Electrical:

Insulating Around Plumbing & Piping:

Insulating Around Windows:

Installing insulation around junction boxes that house electrical receptacles and switches, and

around wiring in walls and ceilings requires some special techniques. When cutting insulation

around wiring, be sure to keep your utility knife clear of the wires.

Junction Boxes - Hold the insulation up in the wall cavity and check where the junction box lines up.

Cut a notch in the batt for the junction box. Place that cutout of insulation behind the junction box,

and then insert the rest of the batt in the cavity.

Wiring in Walls - When electrical wiring passes through a stud cavity, split the insulation with

a utility knife and ﬁt half in front of and half behind the wire so that the wire is nested inside the

insulation. If the wiring is located close to the inside surface, then press insulation behind the wiring.

Wiring in Ceilings - Insulation should be placed between electrical wiring and the ceiling.

In almost any insulation project, you are bound to encounter plumbing pipes in walls and ceilings. It’s

important to insulate around these obstacles properly, especially in exterior walls where an improper

installation could lead to frozen pipes. Remember, in that particular application, the object is to block

cold air from the pipes. You should have no problem tucking JM insulation into position. Take your

time to ensure that the insulation ﬁlls the width of the cavity, and do your best to eliminate gaps

wherever possible. Never stress pipes by inserting the insulation too forcefully or tightly.

In walls where plumbing ﬁxtures are to be placed, insulation must be installed ﬁrst. Where there is plumb-

ing in exterior walls, install the insulation BEHIND the pipes, between the pipes and the exterior. To protect

pipes from freezing, insulation should never be placed between the pipes and the warm side of the wall.

For vented crawl spaces in cold climates where water pipes run through the joists, install insulation

below the pipes to protect them from freezing.

Exterior Wall Windows - Apply sealants around all windows. Sealants can eliminate drafts, provide

thermal resistance, and keep out moisture, dust and insects. The sealants you will be using are

generally of two types: caulk and urethane foam.

Caulk is a paste-like material that cures to a solid state. It is applied with a caulking gun to seal small

cracks or gaps. As you apply the caulk to these small spaces, move at a slow, steady pace, forcing

caulk into the gap. Smooth excess caulk with your ﬁngertip or a putty knife before it dries.

Urethane foams are liquid materials that expand rapidly as they set to a semi-rigid state. They are

used to ﬁll larger gaps and holes. The most common type is available in an aerosol can or large

canister. To apply urethane foam, follow the directions on the label. Place the nozzle over one end of

the gap, and then squeeze the trigger while dragging the nozzle across the gap. Because this material

will expand, do not overﬁll the gap.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS,

CRITICAL DETAILS, & TIPS:

Use small scraps of insulation to ﬁll in the cracks around windows and doors. Separate the insulation from the facing and use a putty knife

or screwdriver to work it into spaces between studs or anywhere you can see daylight. This is an important quality step on every job.

Basement Windows - If there are windows in your basement wall, you can make a metal window frame and attach it to the walls

around the window. Cut out insulation and tuck it behind the frame to ﬁnish. Another method is to attach furring strips to the wall

around the windows and staple insulation to the strips, then tape.

Keep all insulation at least 3 inches away from combustible sources such as chimneys, non-IC ﬁxtures, and heated (furnace,

water heater, etc) ﬂue pipes.