Draught proofing fills gaps and holes which reduces the amount of cold air entering your home and prevents warm air from escaping. The diagram below shows where draughts can enter your home.
You might want to consider draught proofing any exterior wooden or metal crittle framed doors, as well as windows.
There are many types of material available such as door, window and letterbox brushes, foam strips, sealants, and shaped rubber or plastic strips.
Draught proofing is an easy, cost-effective way to reduce your heating bills.
Common Draught Entry Points
Doors are one of the biggest entry points for draughts, ensure you draught proof all exterior doors that need it. If you have double glazed doors, keep the door seals clean and ensure they don’t become squashed and ineffective.
If double glazing seals fail, you can usually have them replaced, and there are specialist companies that carry out double glazing repairs. Don’t forget to shop around!
Also, fill any cracks around doors and windows both internally and externally using silicone, putty, grout or filler.
Ensure any loft hatches are draught proofed and the back of the hatch is also insulated with a rigid insulation board, or any fire-retardant insulation type. Do not use polystyrene, as this can give off a gas that can rot any plastic electric cable covering in the loft space.
Also, make sure unused open fireplaces are blocked off, or have a chimney balloon or sweep inserted into them when not in use. Block a chimney if this is being done to stop draught permanently. You can board or brick it up, but ensure there is an air vent to stop damp from forming.
You could fill gaps between bare wooden floorboards; it stops draughts and prevents additional dirt and dust from entering your property.
You can also fill gaps under your skirting boards using old newspaper and mastic, again this will prevent draughts and heat loss.
Ensure you fill gaps around pipes and cables, this will not just prevent draughts from entering your property, but insects and rodents too. Use expanding foam, filler or mortar to fill these gaps.
The Savings
By installing draught proofing you could save around £25-£50 a year on your heating bills and reduce your carbon emissions by 140kg each year.
Additional Information and Resources
For more information on draught proofing you can visit the Energy Saving Trust’s page here:
Energy Saving Trust – Draught Proofing Your Home
Most materials are available from DIY stores, online or through insulation installers. Make sure you check the quality of the products first. It will affect their performance and durability. They should conform to British Standard BS 7386.
The Draught Proofing Association can help you decide which types are most suitable for your home:
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