British homes can be very draughty, and even more heat is lost during windy weather. This is both through the increase in draughts and because of the cooling effect of wind blowing past walls and roofs.
The Energy Saving Trust reckons you can save up to £40 on your annual heating bill by draught proofing.
10 top draught-proofing tips
From keyholes to loft hatches, we've compiled a list of the most common places where draughts occur — and how to prevent them.
- Along the top and bottom of skirting boards - use sealant to fill the gaps.
- Between floorboards - a silicone-based filler that allows for some movement is best for filling the gaps in floorboards, or you can insulate the void beneath your floor.
- Doors - fit draught-proofing strips between the door itself and the frame. This can apply to internal as well as external doors. For gaps between the bottom of the door and the floor, you can buy a special 'brush' or hinged flap draught excluder.
- Loft hatches - put draught strips around the frame to keep out draughts. Also, the door itself can be insulated, typically with a polystyrene slab on the upper side.
- Windows - draught-proofing strips work well around opening casements. Draughts also occur in cracks between the window frames and the surrounding walls - you can either use sealant, or putty here.
- Letter box - fit a second flap or 'brushes' if it doesn’t have either of these.
- Keyholes - you can fit a purpose-made cover that drops a metal disc over the keyhole.
- Disused vents - these could have been left behind after gas fires and old central heating boilers, with non balanced flues, were removed. They should be sealed up, perhaps with an adjustable vent cover, or you can fill them with expanding polyurethane foam.
- Chimneys - if you still use your chimney then you can use a removable chimney balloon; if you don't use it you can have it capped by a professional.
- Damaged or worn parts of a building, for example, where brickwork needs 're-pointing' - add new or top-up mortar between the bricks.
Does draught-proofing reduce ventilation?
It’s essential to still have some air circulating around your home to maintain a healthy environment. So, don’t block or seal any deliberate ventilation, including:
- Extractor fans - remove damp air quickly in rooms where lots of moisture is produced, typically kitchens and bathrooms.
- Air bricks or underfloor grilles - help to keep wooden beams and floors dry.
- Wall vents - let small amounts of fresh air into rooms.
- Trickle vents - small openings in windows that let fresh air trickle in.
How to reduce unnecessary ventilation
While you need to keep your home well-ventilated, warm air is often lost because of windows being left open. It isn't usually necessary to open a window for ventilation because in modern windows trickle vents take care of ventilation needs, and in many older homes there are wall vents that allow air to circulate. If you find you need to open your windows to get rid of excess heat, then you probably need to turn down your room thermostat.
Five top kitchen ventilation tips
Your kitchen can produce a lot of steam and heat, and as a result needs just the right level of ventilation to make sure the moisture gets out, but draughts don't get in.
- Turn down each ring or burner to the appropriate level.
- Put lids on pans, as excess evaporation probably also indicates wasted heat and fuel.
- Think about buying and using a pressure cooker, which will reduce fuel use and cooking times as well as the amount of unwanted heat and steam in the kitchen.
- Use a microwave - it generally has less need of ventilation.
- Use a cooker hood, but only switch the extractor on for the minimum time necessary.
Will curtains help prevent heat loss?
Yes, curtains are a good way to prevent heat loss, as long as you remember to close them at night during cold periods and open them again when the sun comes out to let the heat back in.
You could either buy heavy-duty curtains or buy linings for your existing ones - thermal linings are available for extra insulation. Some people even have two pairs and use one on top of the other, but make sure your curtain rail is securely attached to the wall before you consider this.
And, don't let your curtains hang over a radiator, as this will stop the heat from radiating to warm the room. Try to keep the surface of your radiator clear at all times. In bedrooms, heavy curtains, or thermal/black out linings in lighter curtains, also have the advantage of blocking out the light on summer mornings, so you're not woken up when the sun rises.
What can I do if my windows let in draughts?
Strip insulation for doors and windows is a sensible and inexpensive option to prevent draughts. There are a wide variety of draught strips now available, and you should be able to find ones which will stop the cold air seeping or blowing in between your opening casements and the fixed window pane.
Also, check that around the frame, and around non-opening casements, there are no gaps where the cold air is getting in and the warm air is escaping. You can use a sealant around frames and putty to seal around the glass.
Finally, make sure you remember the simple things, like drawing the curtains when the sun goes down to retain heat.
Do I need a draught-proofing professional?
If you feel comfortable tackling simple DIY jobs, then draught-proofing shouldn’t pose too many problems for you. You can buy the materials you need from most DIY stores.
However, if you have an older home with single glazing, it will be more difficult to draught-proof. In this case, you might want to consider hiring a professional.
The cost of draught-proofing will vary depending on how much you need to do. Professional draught-proofing could save you more money in the long run as the installer will know exactly the right materials to use and where.
