LEDs retro into IC and nonIC can lights????
 

This is sort of a continuation of Daox's earlier thread on retrofitting LEDs into existing indoor recessed or "can" light fixtures. Maybe he'll give an update.
I have a bunch (about a dozen ) 6" recessed non IC can fixtures in my kitchen and LR that I have used fluorescent floodlights in.(65 or75 equivalent watt) They have gotten dimmer over the last couple of years and this winter I also noticed a lot of air leakage into the rooms as the non IC cans shouldn't be insulated over and have slits etc in the cans letting in significant cold air. I went to the fluorescents as I planned to silicone caulk the slits and insulate over them as I figured it would be safe given no halogens and much lesser heat loads into the can.
I chickened out and didn't do either tho mostly because I was worried about cooking the expensive (then) fluorescent floodlights. Fast forward to this past winter!
Just bought a $14 LED bulb type floodlight LED - same equivalent wattage - at Lowes and it is so much brighter, faster and natural looking and less wattage than the flourescents!
My question is, if I replace the flourscents with either bulb type replacement LEDs (or maybe the ones that use a screw in bulb socket with wiring to a replacement bezel containing the LED), can I safely caulk the leaky cans and blanket insulate over them from the fire safety standpoint and from that of cooking a bunch of costly new LEDs?????
I would think switching to IC cans would offer even less airflow to the LEDs.
Anyone in this quandary?

I'm very happy with my LED retrofits. However, I'm not worried about airflow or air leakage because mine are on a my 1st floor and I have a second floor. I'm not sure if they need airflow or not to keep cool.

My suggestion is the retrofit where you replace the trim with a trim with the LED's in the trim . As has been mentioned .

Closing off the ventilation holes in the old can lights , sounds good , unless you sell the house and the next owner sticks in incandescent lamps . :-(

God bless
Wyr

Personally, I took the metal foil tape and taped up all the slots and openings on my can lights and then shot Great Stuff foam all around them, up to about 4" off the sheetrock, so maybe half way up the can. Then I buried the whole mess with a bit over 10" of blown in cellulose insulation.

As for the light bulbs, I pulled out the 60w equivalent 13w CFL's and replaced them with the 40w equivalent 8w (?) LED floods and called it good. They put off so little heat and are not used more than 3 or 4 hours at a time, so I don't think there will be any problem.