As the mercury drops once again, many households are wondering how they’ll keep warm without forking out hundreds on energy bills. But one furniture retailer has shared tips on how to keep warm while maintaining your thermostat at a low temperature.
Its main advice is to check for draughts coming from unexpected places – from keyholes and pet doors to pipes and recessed lighting. Draughts can make their way into homes through gaps, cracks or poorly insultated areas, making the task of keeping the house warm even harder than normal.
But addressing these trouble spots can make a significant difference to comfort during the winter months. Checking windows and doors are a good place to start, the team at posh.co.uk has said.
It’s also suggested looking at pet doors and electrical outlets. The furniture retailer said the seemingly small gaps can let in enough cold air to keep your living space feeling chilly and force your heating system to work harder.
Thankfully, there are a range of draught-proofing measures you can take to prevent chilly breezes from entering. These include sealing cracks, adding weatherstripping, and installing draught excluders.
Andy Ellis, home and garden expert at posh.co.uk, said homeowners often underestimate how much cold air can sneak in through the smallest of gaps. He said “Taking the time to identify and fix these draughts can significantly reduce heating costs, especially during the winter months when energy bills tend to rise. A little preventative maintenance now can save a lot in the long run.”
He shared the ten most common draughty spots in a home and how to fix them.
Internal and external doors
Looking at internal and external doors is the natural place to start. If your door isn’t fit snugly within its frame, cold air can easily seep through. Andy said installed a draught excluder or fitting a brush strip along the bottom on your draughty doors should help.
He also suggested weatherstripping around the edges of external doors to help seal any gaps.
Keyholes
Keyholes on external doors are notorious for letting in small but noticeable draughts. A simple keyhole cover can block the airflow when the key is not in use.
Windows
Another logical place to look is your windows. These are a common source of draughts, especially if your windows are old or single-glazed. Air will simply enter through the cracks around any frame or vent left open.
To solve this, add some self-adhesive foam tape or silicone sealant around the window edges. For single-glazed windows, upgrading to double or triple glazing is an effective – albeit expensive – long term solution.
Floors and walls
If you’ve got hardwood flooring then you’ve likely got a draughts entering through small gaps in the ground. The same goes for skirting boards or cracks in walls. To overcome this, fill any gaps in floorboards with flexibile filler and seal the edges where skirting boards meet the floor using caulk.
If cracks are visible in walls, repair them with a suitable filler or plaster to prevent air leakage.
Pet doors
What may be convenient for your four-legged friend may not be so for you. Pet doors are, unsurprisingly, a serious source of draughts. Over time, the flap may warp, becoming loose or fail to close properly.
To resolve this, make sure your pet door is properly aligned and replace the flap if it’s old and manky. For added piece of mind, consider upgrading to a pet door with a magnetic or insulated flap that seals securely when closed. Otherwise, use a temporary covering during those colder months.
Chimneys
They may look fashionable but unused or unsealed chimneys act as a funnel for cold air, especially in older homes. To stop this, consider using a chimney balloon or a removable draught excluder designed for chimneys. These block airflow when the chimney isn’t in use and can easily be removed.
Recessed lighting
Also known as spotlights, recessed downlights are ubiquitous in homes across the UK. You can often find them in kitchens, bathrooms and in living rooms but the lights often penetrate the ceiling, creating gaps.
If you want to avoid this, look for airtight, fire-rated or IC-rated recessed lighting fixtures and seal any gaps with fire-rated caulk or foam. IC-rated lighting fixtures – short for Insulation Contact-rated lighting fixtures – are designed to safely come into direct contact with insulation materials without causing a fire hazard.
Lofts and roof spaces
Loft hatches that don’t fit tightly or lack insulation are a frequent source of draughts. Gaps in roof tiles or damaged flashing can also let in cold air.
Fit an insulated draught-proofing strip around the edge of the loft hatch and check your roof for missing or damaged tiles. Repair any gaps with roof sealant or call a tradesman, if necessary.
Pipes and cables
Pipes and cables that pass through walls often leave small gaps that let air in. These gaps are commonly found around heating pipes or outdoor water taps. To fix this, use expanding foam or silicone sealant to fill the gaps and prevent airflow.
Ventilation
Last, but not least, is ventilation. Ventilation systems like extractor fans and air bricks are absolutely necessary for airflow but can also help draughts enter your home if they’ve been poorly designed.
For extractor fans, ensure they have a backdraft shutter installed. With air bricks, you can purchase covers that allow air circulation while reducing cold air intake.
