Draught proofing - what is it and how much can I save?   

If your home is losing heat and feels draughty, there is a high possibility that it could be due to small openings that allow cold air to get in or warm air to get out of your home. When this happens your central heating system will be switched on more often and this will result to higher energy bills. Higher bills, higher Carbon emissions, more wear and tear on the boiler and a greater chance of a boiler breakdown- it's all bad. So what's the answer?

What is draught proofing?

Draught proofing is a method in which small gaps around your home are sealed. Small gaps can be around windows, doors, floors or any small opening in the house where air can get out or cold air can get in. You need to seal these small gaps in order to make your home energy efficient. Draught proofing is an economical way of removing draughts from the home. It costs just a small amount of money and the fact that you can easily do this task yourself makes it even more economical. Any DIY store will have the materials neccessary for the job and instructions on how to apply the material are also provided on the packets.

Materials needed

• Flexible sealant – for filling gaps between the floor and skirting boards. This kind of sealant will last for several years but silicon sealants although more expensive, will last longer
• Brush strips – offering a flexible seal which is usually used for surfaces with movement. Like the seal around the bottom of a bath
• Self-adhesive foam strips – a cheap sealant but doesn't last long. Used for sealing around doors and window gaps
• Self-adhesive rubber strips – used in the same way as the foam strip but rubber strips are more durable and last longer
• Compression doorsill strips – used and installed on the bottom of external doors
• External door kits – the most efficient way of sealing an external door

Areas to be draught proofed

• Doors (internal and external)
• Windows
• Skirting and floor boards
• Chimneys
• Key holes
• Mail boxes
• Exhaust fans
• Wall cracks
• Gaps around pipes

Draught proofing - costs and savings

Should you decide to do the draught proofing of your home by yourself, you will need around £100 for the materials. Hiring an installer will double the cost for a complete service.

Homes which are fully draught-proof save an average of £55 annually from energy bills. This is because the boiler and heating systems do not work as much to compensate for the heat escaping through the small openings around their homes.

If all homes in the UK were properly draught proofed, the total savings could be more than £195 million per year!

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