Slash your vitality payments this autumn with consultants’ £6 tip to banish draughts

As the balmy days of summer give way to a crisp autumn chill, many will be reaching for their snug knits. But as the mercury continues to drop, keeping our homes toasty becomes a priority.

Aside from relocating to warmer climes, draught proofing is a guaranteed method to keep the heat in and slash those pesky energy bills.

The whizzes at Hiatt Hardware have dished out four handy tips to help you draught-proof your home effectively and without breaking the bank, ensuring you stay cosy as we march into autumn.

Why should you bother with draught-proofing?

A whopping 30% of household warmth escapes through draughty doors and windows, reports the Express. These draughts let cold air sneak into your home, allowing the warm air to make a swift exit.

This forces your heating system to go into overdrive, hiking up your energy bills and ramping up carbon emissions; making draught-proofing an essential task as the colder months loom.

We recommend taking a moment to identify the problem spots in your home and then think about splashing out on practical draught-proofing solutions like storm guards and weather strips.

Batten down the hatches

External doors are a prime culprit for letting in the winter chill. To combat this, start by sticking self-adhesive draught-proofing strips around the door edges, just as you would with windows.

To tackle the draught at the bottom of your door, consider installing a door brush or seal to keep out unwanted air. Draught excluders are another cost-effective solution that can reduce heat loss by up to 30%.

You can pick up a door brush or door seal for as little as £6 on Amazon.

Insulate windows

Windows are often the main culprits for letting in cold air. To spot draughts, run your hand around the window frame or use a lighter to detect airflow – if the flame flickers, you’ve found a draught!

If your home’s windows are a problem area, you can address this affordably. Self-adhesive weather strips, available cheaply in DIY stores, have a simple rubber-based design that helps prevent outside air from getting in.

These strips can be cut to different lengths to fit your window size, but it’s crucial to choose the right width. If the insulation strip is too wide, it could stop your window from closing properly, making the problem worse.

Conversely, if the strip is too thin, it won’t keep out draughts and won’t improve your energy efficiency.

For windows that you don’t intend to open or those that are naturally non-opening, consider insulating them with silicone sealant or applying window film, which can be shrunk into place using a hairdryer. However, it’s crucial to ensure fresh air circulation to prevent condensation build-up and subsequent mould growth.

A simple solution is to open a front or back door for 10 minutes each day.

Don’t forget your letterbox

A frequently forgotten draught source is the letterbox. If yours is slightly old and damaged, you might also experience annoying flapping throughout the day and night.

Fitting a new letter plate with a dedicated flap or brush can stop heat from escaping and cut down on unwanted noise.

Seal gaps in the flooring

Skirting boards and floorboards can expand and contract with temperature changes, creating gaps that let in cold air. To keep the chill out, we suggest using hard-setting fillers that are flexible enough to accommodate movement, such as mastic sealant or decorator’s caulk.

The great thing about these fillers is they don’t have to clash with your decor – they come in various colours, and the decorator’s caulk can be stained to match your interiors!