Draught Proofing
What is
Draught Proofing
Draught proofing measures are amongst the most cost effective energy efficiency measures you can take. But, before you start blocking off all those gaps you should always consider a vital ventilation strategy and ask yourself the question is the draughty space you’re looking to block off an intended route of air flow or unintended?
If it’s unintentional then block it off – just make sure you maintain good ventilation which is required in any type of home, existing or new build, to reduce condensation and prevent damp.
As to what can be draught proofed … windows, doors, loft hatch, skirting, floor and walls … anywhere that’s allowing for the unintended inflow of cold air.
There are a wide variety of draft proofing products and measures you can take – all of which can be taken on a d=”do it yourself” basis and hence will cost very little.
Draught Proofing Example
What is the benefit of draught proofing?:
Believe it of not research has proven that installing simple draught excluders around windows and doors and blocking off other unintended gaps, cracks and spaces can significantly reduce heat loss, potentially saving you up to 30% on your energy bills in extreme cases.
Even in less extreme situations, savings of 10% to 20% are quite common so addressing the issue of draughts is very important – especially in view of how cheap and easy it is to draught proof these days!
How do I check for draughts?
Don’t forget – you’re looking for the unintended movement of air.
Address the whole house by first looking for any obvious gaps – a visible crack or light showing through the gap is the most obvious clue. When it’s windy listen for for any strange whistling sounds, feel for air, watch for curtains blowing and moving, carefully run a candle around door and window frames and watch the movement of the flame.
You can also invest in a “smoke pen” – a tool that’s available from DIY shops and online retailers that’s specifically designed to help identify draughts.
Where should I draught proof?
Windows:
Draught-proofing strips are readily available to seal any gaps between the window itself and the frame. Foam strips can be used around standard windows and brush strips for windows which slide.
Any gaps between frames and walls or on non-opening windows silicone sealant can be used.
Doors:
Likewise foam strips and brush strips can be used around the door itself and silicone sealant to fill gaps between frames and walls.
Also consider any openings – key hole, letter box etc and incorporate an internal draft proof cover for these – available from any DIY supplier.
Skirting boards and floorboards:
Flexible filler can be used to plug and gaps in skirting boards and floor boards which allow for cold air to enter the room from the floor itself. Make sure the filler is flexible – specialist products are available
Loft hatch:
You may have insulated your loft well but have you checked the loft hatch for draughts? Foam strips can be used to prevent the draft. You may also want to consider the hatch itself (often just a thin piece of wood) as it may benefit from insulation too.
Gaps in the walls:
Various specialist hard setting fillers and sealants are available for cracks in masonry and any gaps around frames, pipes etc – make sure you choose the correct solution for the problem itself (easy to do at your local DIY store or online retailer).
Also, if there’s a crack, check there’s no concerning underlying cause.
How much does draught proofing cost?
This all depends on how many draughts you have!
A 10m strip of decent quality foam / silicone draught excluder will only set you back around £10, brush strips are around £8 per door, a tube of external silicone sealer is less than £10 and flexible filler around £5 per unit so nothing is going to cost much, you can spread the cost by taking on the project on a room by room basis and all measures can be installed quickly and easily without the need for employing a specialist tradesperson.
Are grants available for draught proofing?
Generally speaking there’s no grant support towards the cost of draught proofing but it costs very little anyway and often pays for itself very quickly.
That said, if you live in Northern Ireland you may have access to a grant – see our section on Energy Efficiency Grants >