Draught-proofing is a cheap and effective way to save energy at home, which also means saving money.
Whether your concern is lowering your carbon footprint, or cutting down your energy bills, keeping the draught out is a great way to do both. Here is everything you need to know about draught-proofing before you get started.
Professional or DIY?
The costs of draught-proofing your home can vary depending on how much work needs to be done. Professional draught-proofing can cost around £250 for the entire house, but the DIY route can be even cheaper.
Shop around and consider your overall budget first, as poorly done draughting won’t save you much money in the long run.
Ventilation
While draughts are a pain, air still needs to flow in and out of the house to keep things dry and fresh. Because of this, it’s important to not block off or seal any areas used for ventilation. This includes extractor fans, underfloor grilles or airbricks, wall vents and trickle vents.
Banishing draughts
Draughts seep in through unwanted gaps in the construction of your home and any uncovered openings. Once these are blocked, your home will be able to retain more heat, and you’ll be able to save some money on your energy bills.
Related: How to keep your house warm
Floorboards and skirting boards
Cracks in your floor can be blocked by squirting filler into the gaps. Floorboards and skirting boards have a tendency to expand, contract or move slightly over time, so make sure to use a filler that can tolerate movement.
Fillers are usually permanent, so be careful when you apply them and make sure to wipe away any excess with a damp cloth before it dries.
Windows
For windows that open, buy draught-proofing strips to stick around the window and fill the gap between the window and the frame.
You could either use self-adhesive foam strips or metal strips with brushes or wipers attached. The latter are more long-lasting but also more expensive, so make sure to shop around first to find the best deal. If you have a window that does not open, you can use a silicone sealant to fill in the gaps.
Chimneys
If you have an unused fireplace, your chimney could be the culprit behind unnecessary draughts.
You could either contact a professional to fit a cap over the chimney pot, or buy a chimney draught excluder. These help to reduce the loss of heat through the chimney, and are usually fitted inside the chimney or around the fireplace.
Doors
Heat can escape through several points on your external doors, but this is an easy problem to resolve.
Start with a purpose-made cover for your keyhole – the metal disc will stop heat from escaping. You could also fit a letterbox flap or brush, and a brush or hinged flap draught excluder for the gap at the bottom of the door. For the gaps around the edges, fit foam, brush or wiper strips like the ones on your windows.
Cracks in walls
Cracks in your walls can be filled using cements or hard-setting fillers. However, if the crack is large, you may need to check for an underlying problem first. Consider consulting a surveyor or builder to find out what caused the crack in the first place, and what steps you need to take next.
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