My 15 Year Airtight Retrofit Journey – Real Results on a 1970s Home
Join me as I revisit my 1970s AV Jennings home in Melbourne, 5 years after major upgrades. From ~30 ACH leaks to ~2.5 ACH super-airtight performance – this is the nitty-gritty of what actually works for older Australian homes. We removed gas appliances, ditched leaky ducted heating & evaporative cooling, spray-foamed the subfloor, added wall/ceiling insulation, retrofitted triple-glazed windows, installed heat recovery ventilation, and sealed everything. Result? Dramatically better comfort, quieter home, no more drafts, healthier indoor air, easier heating/cooling with just one small split system, and huge energy savings potential. Perfect for owners of 1970s brick veneer homes facing high bills, cold winters, or summer heat in Melbourne/Victoria. Many of the products used in this video are available at 👉 https://tighthouse.com.au/ Timestamps below 👇 0:00 Intro – Revisiting My 1970s AV Jennings Home After 5 Years 0:45 Fixing Drainage & Foundation Issues (Why Cracks Happen) 2:59 Exterior Maintenance & Brick Repairs on Old Homes 3:46 The Price of Performance 4:43 Removing Box Air Conditioners & Evaporative Cooler & Attic upgrades 7:55 Sealing Internal Wall Cavities & Top/Bottom Plates 10:05 Thermal Imaging Drone Proof – Leaky Roofs Exposed 11:05 Removing Ducted Heating & Spray Foaming the Subfloor 14:02 Floor Penetrations & Register Blockers, Laundry upgrades 15:55 Window Retrofits: Triple Glazing, Smaller Openings & Security Upgrades 22:24 Removing Skylight & Adding Fake LED One 24:30 A common problem Fridge Vent Holes 25:26 Joinery & Kitchen Sealing Behind Cabinets 27:42 Sealing Wall Vents, Ceiling Vents 29:20 Downlights Upgrade: From Leaky Halogens to IC-Rated LEDs 30:50 Wall insulation 31:54 Perimeter Eave Insulation Challenges 36:07 R-Values 36:53 Audio air leaks 37:55 Ventilation Upgrades: HRV, Bathroom/Toilet Exhaust & Door Vents 44:59 Final Heating/Cooling: One Split System + Ceiling Fans 46:20 Outside living 46:47 Wrap-Up: Comfort, Health & Energy Wins If you’re planning a retrofit, drop a comment: What’s your biggest pain point – drafts, bills, or comfort? Subscribe for more practical Australian home performance tips! 👍 Like if this helped 🔔 Turn on notifications #1970sHome #HomeRetrofit #Airtightness #EnergyEfficientHome #MelbourneHome #DraughtyHouseFix #PassiveHouseInspired #AllElectricHome #InsulationUpgrade #HomeRenovationAustralia

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