Draught proofing your home

The cold weather is certainly biting this winter and if your home isn’t properly draught proofed, you will constantly feel the chill. So plug up those draughts and you can have a cosy, energy efficient home.

Why should you draught proof your home?

Draught proofing can save 10% on your fuel bills
© ServiceMagic

If you home isn’t draught proofed then icy air can get in through gaps no matter how much you turn the heating up or insulate your home. In fact; “The higher the temperature in a house, the faster heat will escape through holes and gaps around doors, windows, letterboxes or keyholes,” points out Alan Onslow, from the Draught Proofing Advisory Association (DPAA).

While many people realise the importance of installing insulation, having an energy efficient boiler and being careful with energy usage, it seems that lots forget about draught proofing. The DPAA estimates that around 12% of a home’s heat is lost through ventilation and draughts. “The better insulated a house is, the quicker heat will escape through gaps, ” Alan says. “So when you insulate the home you should carry out draught proofing as well, otherwise it’s like trying to trek to the North Pole with a coat, but no shoes on.”

The bottom line is that you will save money on your fuel bills if you draught proof – the DPAA claim you could save up to 10% on bills and the Energy Saving Trust (EST) calculates that if everyone in the UK draught proofed their homes we would save £200 million.

Perhaps most importantly though, draught proofing will help reduce your home’s carbon emissions and go some way to helping the environment. The EST says that draught proofing can reduce your homes carbon emissions by 130kg a year.

Types of draught proofing

Adhesive strips can be
used to draught proof your home

There are a whole range of draught proofing products designed to work on doors, windows, letterboxes, cat flaps, floors, loft hatches, chimneys and around pipes. Here are some of the main types:

• Compression seals
• Wiper seals
• Brushes
• Foams
• Sealants
• Adhesive strips

A draught proofing specialist can advise you as to which draught proofing measures will suit your home. Always make sure that you use British Standard (BS) products. “Preferably, you should hire a DPAA member or one appointed by a DPAA manufacturer of BS products to install your draught proofing,” Alan explains. “These products are covered by a 20 year guarantee provided correctly installed and maintained.”

How much does draught proofing cost?

Alan says: “It costs between £200 and £400 to have a contractor in to draught proof your home, which is the easiest way of doing it.” The DPAA say that draught proofing will provide savings year in year out, so it really is one of the cheapest and simplest way to cut your emissions and keep your home warm.

AB