Draught Proofing | How to REDUCE Your Heating Bill! FREE Impartial Advice!

Reduce Your Heating Bill: Draught Proofing

You can reduce your monthly heating bill and make your property more energy efficient by concentrating on a few simple home improvements such as draught proofing, insulation and double-glazing. Draught proofing is a quick and easy way to start.

What is draught proofing?

There is a different between ventilation and a draught. Ventilation is essential for a home to let in fresh air and stop moisture building up, but draughts are excessive air flow that can cause heat loss. Draught proofing can involve several simple measures that can stop this excessive flow of air and cut down on the amount of heat energy that you waste in your property.

Where can I find the source of the draught?

Firstly you need to determine the source of the draught, this could be gaps in construction or areas which are left open or uncovered. The most common sources of draught are windows, doors, loft hatches, suspended floorboards, pipes leading outside and ceiling-to-wall joints.

Are there any areas I shouldn’t draught proof?

Ventilation is an important aspect of building so you should take care when draught proofing not to stop all ventilation, this is particularly true in bathrooms and kitchens that need good ventilation to stop condensation and damp. Similarly rooms with open fires will need good ventilation.

How much does draught proofing cost?

Draught proofing is one of the most effective ways of reducing heat loss in your home. You can draught proof your house for as little as £100 with some DIY skills and the correct materials. When buying look for the Kitemark that shows the material is of a good standard. Or you could hire a professional draught proofing firm that usually charges around £200. As a homeowner you could be eligible for financial support from the government or your local authority to pay for the installation of draught proofing. You should also contact your energy supplier for more information on possible grants that they might offer.

How much can I save by draught proofing my house?

On average draught proofing will save you £25 on your annual heating bill. You should also consider that a draught-free house is usually comfortable with a lower thermostat temperature so this could save you extra money. This may not sound like a lot, but savings will quickly add up: if every home in the UK draught proofed their home we would save enough energy to heat 260,000 houses.

How can I draught proof my windows?

You can use self-adhesive foam strips or metallic or plastic strips to draught proof any gaps between the window and its frame. Foam strips are quick and easy to install and considerably cheaper than metal or plastic strips, but they won’t last as long. Or for permanently closed windows you could use a silicon sealant. When fitting strips make sure that they are the right size for the gap.

How can I draught proof my doors?

In order to draught proof your doors you need to assess where the draught is coming from. If it is from the edge of the door, then foam or wiper strips like those used on windows can be added. However to draught proof the bottom of the door or the letterbox use a brush or hinged flap that will allow for movement. Also consider doors within the house, for example doors to unheated rooms should be kept closed to stop heat loss in other areas of the house.

How can I draught proof my fireplace?

Fireplaces can be a big cause of draughts, in order to draught proof your chimney you can fit a cap over the top of the chimney or use a chimney balloon that is inserted inside of the chimney and then blown up to stop draughts. Of course both of these measures need to be removed if you want to light a fire.

What other areas should I look at when draught proofing?

Other common sources of draughts are loft hatches, pipework entering the house and old extractor fans that are no longer in use. To draft proof a loft hatch use strip insulation. To fill in any small gaps surrounding pipework use a silicon filler or for larger areas use expanding polyurethane foam. Both of these can be purchased from a DIY outlet and are easy to apply. If you want to fill in an old extractor fan you should probably contact a builder to permanently fill in the hole with bricks.

If you are looking to save money and energy by reducing your heating bills then draught-proofing should be the first step you take to ensuring that your property is more energy efficient.