7 Ways to Create a Draught-Free Home

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 Feeling the cold? As we head into autumn and chillier weather rolls in, we’re all thinking of ways we can heat our homes. This year, in particular, we’re searching for solutions that are quick, easy, and cost-effective. While it’s always a good idea to layer up in thermals, jumpers and woolly socks, keeping your home warm is by far the most effective way of staying cosy. However, central heating can be expensive and if the heat is lost as soon as you turn your radiators off, you could end up racking up a significant bill.

If you haven’t considered whether your home is losing heat via draughts, now is the time to turn your attention to the nooks and crannies that could be letting cold air in. This blog will cover several ways you can exclude draughts from your home. Most of them are easy enough to get started with, while others will require a little bit more work and planning. Either way, these small changes will be well worth your time.

 Ensure doors and windows are secure 

Check for cracks around your doors and windows that might be letting in draughts. If your door isn’t hung properly, it can be letting warm air escape through the surround. A quick and simple solution to this is to adjust the hinges. You can find out lots of information about adjusting uPVC door hinges online, so don’t worry if you’re not an expert.

Buy a draught excluder

Simple and wallet-friendly, draught excluders are a quick way to block out draughts that might be coming in under doors. These are usually sausage-shaped pieces of fabric that you place at the bottom of your door to stop breezes coming in. You can place them in front of the main door or the door to the living room to keep the warmth in when you have the heating switched on.

Hang curtains over doors and windows

Curtains are perfect for keeping in the heat on cold evenings. If you haven’t considered it yet, try hanging a curtain over draughty main doors to stop heat from escaping and cold from coming in, too. Make sure your curtains are adequate to keep in the heat – floor length is better for bigger windows. If you have more money to invest, thermal curtains block the cold and the light at the same time.

Repair seals and holes around the home

While checking that your windows and doors are closing securely, be on the lookout for holes or cracks in the frames. You can cheaply repair these with expanding foam filler or tape. Expanding foam filler is ideal for bigger gaps, whilst tape is a tidy option for small cracks that won’t affect your frames too much. 

Consider double glazing for your windows

If your home is very draughty, it might be time to consider double glazing. Whilst it’s expensive to install new windows, the money saved over time heating your home will likely make it worth it. Double glazing reduces heat loss by up to 65%, so you’ll feel the difference instantly – and see the decrease in your gas bill. 

Draught proof your letterbox

The unlikely culprit of your draught could be your letterbox. Whilst it’s important this remains accessible, there are ways to secure it. Try adding a magnet to the inside so that it closes to but lets the postman pop in the post. You could also try moving your post to an outside box and getting rid of your letter box completely.

Add insulation to draughty floors 

You might not have considered that a draught is coming up from your floors. Particularly in old houses, heat can be lost through floorboards and cold air can come up in the same way. Adding insulation under your floorboards is an effective solution. If you can’t afford to do this, adding thick rugs down on wooden flooring is a cheaper alternative.

Check your attic

If you have an attic in your home, it may be releasing a lot of cold air into the house if the hatch leading up to it isn’t properly sealed. Consider sealing up cracks and making sure the door fits perfectly. Always keep your attic shut when it’s not in use. If your attic is very draughty, you may want to think about better insulating your roof, especially if you use your attic as a room.

 

It’s difficult to eliminate all draughts in your home, but by following some of the tips on this list, you should find that your rooms are much warmer than before. Take each one of these repairs one step at a time and don’t try to do everything at once. You may even want to hire a specialist to help you identify all the areas of your home that need improving.

 

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