Insulating Rim joists unfinished basement 1971 ranch

Can anyone give me some hints on insulating the rim joists in a 1971 one level house unfinished basement?

I was thinking of the rigid foam sealed with spray foam and then the batts, but after reading about the off gassing, etc and possible health effects of spray foam I'm having second thoughts.

Are there any alternatives to sealing around the rigid foam with spray foam?

Also, I read something about making sure not to seal the basement to tight and something with recirculating air and carbon monoxide, etc. I have an oil burning boiler in there.


Also, while on insulation I have another quick question. Whomever lived here before had put up some PINK PANTHER type insulation that is in plastic and has fiberglass insulation merely "hanging" down the walls in a few places. Is this even doing anything with regard to insulation? Should I tear this stuff down? There's only the concrete basement wall behind it and you can literally lift it right up and look behind it.

THanks.

 

Using foam and/or ridgid insulation or just batts of insulation you want to seal all the joints throughout the rim joist.

Exterior caulking will work but it's a little more tedious to install and if there are big gaps it will have it's limits.

The amount of foam used is minimal and should not be an issue.

As for the insulation is it installed in a wall cavity? Unless the entire basement is insulated a small amount is not going to do much good.

 

Thanks! I didn't know you could use caulk around the rigid foam to seal the gaps instead of spray foam! I feel a little safer using the caulking. I read a lot of bad things about spray foam today and feel uneasy using it.