Freezing basement

[Northern Maine Land Man]

You can go around with a candle at electrical outlets and switches in your house on a windy day. If the switch blows on your candle, take the switch plate off and stuff fiberglass insulation in there around the switch box. Use a wooden dowel. you don't want to touch any live wires.

In the cellar, go around the sill where the house sits on the foundation. Same story, but down there you can use spray foam. Wear an old hat that you don't care about and old clothes and shoes. Spray foam is the stickiest stuff known to man. You do NOT want to get it in your hair. Buy cheap cotton gloves in the five pack or 10 pack at discount stores.

Plan ahead. When you commit to using the can of spray foam, use it all because you can't come back the next day and use the other half. The spray tube and nozzle will be solid.

There are three types of "Good Stuff". The regular expands and oozes back into the crack you want to seal. It also oozes out and drools down onto your nice floor or wallpaper. Do NOT try to wipe it off. Let it harden and trim it with a razor like you use to clean stickers off a windshield.

There is a spray foam that does not expand. It seals just as well, but is just as sticky. Then there is the super expanding foam. It can make a huge mess, but is great for filling voids.I had an aluminum boat that leaked along the center keel. I drilled a hole the same size as the plastic tube that comes with Great Stuff, stuck it in the hole at the bow and filled that V-shaped keel with foam. No more leaks.

[mensaguy]

Don't put insulation INSIDE the electrical switch and receptacle boxes. That's not safe. Put it around the outside of the boxes. (The boxes use air space to dissipate heat from the electrical wires when they are under heavy use and are sized for the number and size of the wires that they are rated to hold.)

[NEBeachcomber]

I would suggest that you seal the air leaks in your foundation, insulate any tanks and pipes to reduce the risk of their freezing, and invest in in a Mr Heater "Big Buddy" propane heater (and a few bottles of propane) to keep your basement above freezing on those really cold days/nights.