Stop DRAUGHTS
Stop draughts around the home, from as little as £100
“One of the biggest draught offenders is your letterbox. Over time, the openings can become loose and let precious warm air out – and of course cause cold air to seep into your home. A simple way to combat this is to invest in a letterbox cover to the inside of your door. Letterbox covers come with rubber seals around the openings to ensure they clamp tightly around your letterbox, thus resulting in a tighter fit and less air coming in – or going out of –your home. What’s more, they’re simple to install, and you can pick one up for around £10.
“When it comes to doors, if you have a wooden door – either to the outside or as a second door – and notice draughts coming underneath, installing a simple door brush to the bottom can reduce the amount of air that comes in and out. All it takes is a couple of screws to attach it to your door, and the bristles act as a barrier to keep your precious heat where it should be. Not only are they easy to install, but they can also cost less than £5. If you don’t want to install one to the door – or are unable to – a traditional draught excluder can do the trick. A long sausage shape, they sit in front of the door and stop air in its tracks. Coming in all shapes and sizes, they’re perfect for tying into your décor and adding a bit of personality. You can usually pick one up for around £10.
“Windows can be another culprit when it comes to draughts. Over time, the mechanisms can become looser, meaning they don’t close as tightly as they once did, so need to be tightened. Alternatively, your hinges may need replacing if they’re old. Both issues can be easily remedied with a screwdriver or an Allen key (depending on the issue) and a YouTube video. If you do need to replace your hinges, this is probably less expensive than you may think; you can pick up a pair for under £10 online. If you’re not confident doing this yourself you will need to contact a professional to do this for you. However, this is much cheaper than replacing an entire window.
“Another issue that can occur with windows is related to the seals. Sometimes the window seals, also knowns as gaskets, can become brittle or flatten, meaning they do not compress correctly when the windows are shut. Just like hinges, these can be replaced relatively easily, and are a cost-effective way of making your windows eco-friendlier. If you want a temporary fix over the cold months, you can add an additional seal inside and along the closure to block out any unwanted draughts, as well as noise. They are usually simple to install thanks to their peel and stick nature. You can pick both of these up for around £1 per metre.
“If you don’t have secondary glazing, you don’t necessarily need to invest in it. Instead, secondary glazing film can help reduce the cold air coming in. Essentially a transparent glazing film that is fitted over entire windowpanes to prevent warm air escaping, they can be cut to size and are fitted in place using a hair dryer. And at less than £20 per sheet, they’re much cheaper than replacing your windows.
“If you live in an older house with gorgeous original features, the chances are, you are losing warm air through your floor – especially if you have wooden floors. Older houses tend to have suspended floors to allow air to circulate. Although this is great for stopping damp, it can cause havoc in winter. To ensure you’re not throwing money away, make sure your floors are airtight. For about £5, you can pick up a pot of wood filler, which you simply work into the cracks (along with some wood chips or sawdust for bigger gaps), and leave it to dry. Once it’s set, you can treat this just like your normal wood floor, sanding, varnishing and painting it for a professional finish.
simple tips from the experts at Robert Dyas