Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to save energy – and money – in any type of building.

Controlled ventilation helps reduce condensation and damp, by letting fresh air in when needed.

Draughts are uncontrolled: they let in too much cold air and waste too much heat.

To draught-proof your home, block up unwanted gaps that let cold air in and warm air out. Saving warm air means you’ll use less energy to heat your home, so you’ll save money as well as making your home snug and warm.

Professional draught-proofing could cost circa £270 for your whole house*. DIY draught-proofing will be cheaper.

Windows

For windows that open, buy draught-proofing strips to stick around the window frame and fill the gap between the window and the frame. There are two types:

Self-adhesive foam strips – these are cheap and easy to install, but may not last long.

Metal or plastic strips with brushes or wipers attached, which are long-lasting, but cost a little more.

The strip must be is the right size to fill the gap in your window. If the strip is too big, you may not be able to close the window. If it’s too small, there will still be a gap.

For sliding sash windows, foam strips do not work well. It’s best to fit brush strips or consult a professional. For windows that don’t open, use a silicone sealant. If you’re thinking of replacing your windows, consider installing new energy efficient windows, double or triple glazed.

Doors

Draught-proofing external doors can stop a lot of heat from escaping, and won’t cost you much. There are four main areas to consider draught-proofing:

Keyhole – buy a purpose-made cover that drops a metal disc over the keyhole.

Letterbox – use a letterbox flap or brush, but remember to measure your letterbox before you buy.

Gap at the bottom – use a brush or hinged flap draught excluder.

Gaps around the edges – fit foam, brush or wiper strips like those used for windows.

Internal doors

Should be draught-proofed if they lead to a room you don’t normally heat, such as your spare room or kitchen. Keep those doors closed to stop the cold air from moving into the rest of the house. If there is a gap at the bottom of the door, block it with a draught excluder – you can make one stuffed with used plastic bags or bits of spare material.   Internal doors between two heated rooms don’t need draught-proofing, as you don’t lose energy when warm air circulates.

Fireplaces

If you don’t use your fireplace, your chimney is probably a source of unnecessary draughts. There are two main ways to draught-proof a chimney:

Fit a cap over the chimney pot – this might be better done by a professional.

Buy or make a chimney draught excluder – these help stop draughts and heat loss through the chimney, and are usually fitted inside the chimney.

Remember to remove the draught-proofing if you decide to light a fire. 

Floorboards and skirting boards

You can block cracks in your floor by using filler into the gaps. Floorboards and skirting boards often contract, expand or move slightly with everyday use, so you should use a filler that can tolerate movement – these are usually silicone-based. Look for the following products: flexible fillers / decorator’s caulk / mastic-type products

Fillers come in different colours, and for indoor and outdoor use. They block gaps permanently so be careful when you apply– wipe off excess with a damp cloth before it dries. Fillers may break down over time, but can easily be reapplied.

Check whether you also need to insulate between the skirting board and the floor?

Loft Hatches

Hot air rises and gets straight up to the cold space in your loft or attic, so it’s worth blocking off draughts  around hatch where it meets the ceiling – consider strip insulation, as you would on a door.   You may also be able to put insulation over the hatch (roof side up)

Pipe Work

You can fill small gaps around pipework with silicone fillers, similar to the fillers used for skirting boards and floorboards. Fill larger gaps with expanding polyurethane foam. This is sprayed into the gap, expands as it dries, and sets hard.  Check outside too where pipes connect with your building.

Radiator reflector panels

Radiator reflector panels are an attractive low-cost option.

Fixed behind your radiators, they reflect heat from the radiator back into the room, instead of letting the heat out through an external wall. They can produce the most benefit when installed on uninsulated solid walls.

Remember, you only need to put reflector panels behind radiators on external walls.  

Insulating a hot water tank

Lagging water tanks reduces the amount of heat lost through the tank, spending less money heating water up, and hot water stays hotter for longer.

A hot water cylinder jacket costs about £18, and fitting it is a straightforward job if you follow the manufacturer’s instructions.  Is it 80mm thick? if it isn’t, consider buying a new one or topping it up.

Old fan outlets

May need to be filled with bricks or concrete blocks and sealed from both the inside and outside.  Maybe even foam filler would be suitable?

Cracks in walls

You can fill in cracks using cements or hard-setting fillers. These will work around electrical fittings on walls and ceilings and at ceiling-to-wall joists. If there is a large crack in your wall, you may need to check if there’s an underlying problem. Consider consulting a surveyor or builder to see what caused the crack in the first place.

Ventilation – is necessary!

Air needs to flow in and out of your house so it stays fresh, dry and healthy. Make sure you don’t block or seal any intentional ventilation, including:

Extractor fans – these take out damp air quickly in rooms where lots of moisture is produced (for example, kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms).

Underfloor grilles or airbricks – these help keep wooden beams and floors dry.

Wall vents – which let small amounts of fresh air into rooms.

Trickle vents – modern windows often have small vents above them to let fresh air trickle in.