Introduction
Draught proofing using draught excluders is an affordable and effective way to improve the comfort and energy efficiency of your home.
Insulation and sealing products are an essential component of maintaining a comfortable home, providing an effective barrier against cold air entering your living space while preventing warm air from escaping.
By filling in the cracks around your windows and doors, draught excluders can help keep a consistent temperature inside your home. This simple step can bring about numerous advantages, such as:
- Spending less on energy bills: If you stop the warmth from seeping out of your house, draught excluders can assist in reducing consumption and lowering those expensive heating bills. This is particularly helpful during the winter season when heating systems are used to keep your home cosy and inviting.
- Improving the comfort of your home: In addition to saving money, draught excluders can also help to improve the overall comfort of your home. If you are sat still for any length of time, and there is a cold draught in your living space, it can become uncomfortable as one or more of your extremities feels the chill.
- Draught excluders can create a more comfortable environment in your home by blocking chilly drafts and keeping temperatures consistent.
- Help reduce the global carbon footprint by minimizing your energy usage! Draught excluders are a simple and effective way to do this. Heating and cooling represent a considerable percentage of household energy consumption, so by reducing usage, we produce less CO2, which is beneficial for the environment.
- Protecting your home: In addition to the benefits mentioned above, draught excluders can also help to protect your home from damage. When cold air sneaks through the crevices around windows and doors, it decreases temperatures in your home to a point where condensation forms – and moisture accumulates. This can result in mould and mildew growth that could cause health issues if left untreated. By sealing these gaps, draught excluders can help to prevent this moisture from condensing in your home and causing damage.
Types of draught excluder
There are several types of draught excluders available, including door snakes, door sweeps, window seals and weather strips, chimney draught excluder, draught proof letterboxes, loft hatch draught proofing.
Door snakes are long, narrow strips of material or foam strips that are placed along the bottom of a door to seal off gaps. They are typically filled with padding of some sort which may be foam, material or even something heavy like sand. Some are designed to be placed in front of the door, whilst others are attached with hooks.
Door sweeps are similar to door snakes, but they are attached to the bottom of the door and not typically removed.
Window seals are self adhesive strips that are applied to the edges of windows to seal off gaps and draught proof windows. They are often referred to under the umbrella terms of weather strips, as the same type of adhesive strips can be used for draught proofing windows and around the edges of doors. They can be applied to all types of windows, including sliding sash windows.
Chimney draught proofing is something which is often overlooked, however, it is vital to prevent heat loss. There are permanent solutions as well as various temporary solutions, such as chimney sheep and chimney balloons.
Draught proof letterboxes are also available and can help to reduce the air flow into the home through the mail slot.
Loft hatch draught proofing helps to keep warm air from escaping through gaps around loft hatches or attic access points.
One of the main benefits of draught excluders is that they are easy to install and require very little maintenance. Most draught excluders can be easily installed by following the manufacturer’s instructions, and they typically only require occasional cleaning to maintain their effectiveness. You can read our how-to guides on how to install a draught excluder to your front door and how to install a draught excluder around a door.
Draught proofing costs
Draught proofing costs can vary depending on the scale of the project, the type and size of draught excluder you buy. Generally, they are fairly inexpensive and can be done as a DIY project or professionally installed.
Overall, draught excluders offer many benefits in terms of energy efficiency and comfort.
Conclusion
In conclusion, draught proofing is an effective, easy and affordable way to improve the comfort and energy efficiency of your home. Not only will it reduce your energy bills, but it can also make your home more comfortable by blocking out draughts.
To draught proof your home is one of a number of things that savvy homeowners should do to save money, protect their investment and the environment.
Is it DIY or professional?
It is perfectly possible to install draught excluders yourself by following manufacturer instructions. However, it may be advisable to consult a professional for more complex or technical installations. The product must be fitted correctly to maintain its efficiency. A qualified installer will know the best methods for installing draught excluders and can help ensure that the job is done the right way the first time.
Does draught proofing reduce ventilation?
Your property should be fitted with window trickle vents and/or wall vents which should provide sufficient airflow. Once draught proofing is installed, you may notice a reduction in draughts at the property but this does not mean that ventilation has been reduced – it simply means that the air is no longer being forced into your home through gaps and cracks.
Does sealant stop draughts?
Yes, sealants are one of the most effective ways to stop draughts. Sealant is applied around the edges of windows, doors and other openings in your home to create an airtight seal that blocks out draughts. There are several types of sealant available which can be used for different materials and surfaces and you may wish to apply it around floorboards and skirting boards, so be sure to use the correct product for your purposes. It is possible to apply sealant yourself but it may be advisable to consult a professional for more complex or technical installations.
How do you stop draughts from UPVC windows?
UPVC windows can be draught proofed by using a combination of weather strips, sealants and glazing compound. Weather strips are self-adhesive foam strips which should be applied around the edges of the window frame to seal off any gaps. Sealant should then be applied around the edges of the window to create an airtight seal.
Can you draught proof double glazed windows?
Yes, it is possible to draught proof double glazed windows. Weather strips and sealants can be used around the frame of the window to seal off any gaps, whilst glazing compound can be used on the glass itself. The exact method will depend on the type of double glazing installed and you may need to consult a professional for more complex or technical installations.
How do you draught proof French doors?
French doors can be draught proofed by using a combination of weather strips, door sweeps and sealants. Weather strips should be applied around the edges of both the doorframe and the door itself to create an airtight seal. Door sweeps should then be fitted on the bottom of the doors to prevent any drafts from entering underneath. Sealant can then be applied around the edges of the door frame to further increase the efficiency of the draught proofing. It is possible to install all of these products yourself but if you are not confident in doing so it may be advisable to consult a professional for more complex or technical installations.
