Draught proofing stands out as one of the most budget-friendly ways to boost your home’s energy efficiency and overall comfort. Those shivering cold air currents find their way through gaps around windows, doors, and various openings, which can substantially increase your heating costs while making your rooms feel less than cosy.
Here at The Advanced Group Glasgow, we’ve supported numerous Scottish homeowners in effectively tackling their draught problems. We would like to share our knowledge to help you understand why proper draught proofing will save energy and reduce bills.
Why Draught Proofing Matters for Scottish Homes
Given Scotland’s typically cool climate, getting rid of unwanted air leaks becomes particularly vital, especially during the colder months.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, proper draught-proofing can cut heat loss by up to 20% in your home. This directly results in lower energy bills. Our guidance has helped many of our customers save hundreds of pounds each year, while creating a much more pleasant living space.
It’s worth noting that this easy home improvement is also good for the environment, reducing your carbon footprint by decreasing the energy needed from heating systems to keep your home warm.
Draught proofing can also reduce condensation, which prevent the growth of dangerous mode.
Common Draught Problem Areas in Your Home
The first step to eliminating draughts in your home is to find the areas they are coming from. Here are the common cold spots to check:
Windows and Doors
Windows and doors tend to be the main culprits for draughts in most homes. Windows don’t last forever. Over time, window frames can warp or become damaged, while seals naturally wear down with age. Even the smallest gaps or cracks around the frame can allow cold air to sneak in. The result is a less comfortable and energy-efficient home to live in.
Similarly, spaces around external doors, letterboxes, and keyholes often create uncomfortable cold spots. Even interior doors between heated and unheated areas contribute to heat loss when they aren’t properly sealed.
Floors and Skirting Boards
Uninsulated wooden flooring can account for as much as 20% of heat loss in a household. This is particularly common in older properties, where gaps between the floorboards or skirting boards allow the draughts to creep in.
Wooden floor naturally expands and contracts with temperature changes. Colder houses can cause the wood to shrink, increasing gaps and cracks, letting in even more cold air.
Chimneys and Fireplaces
An unused chimney often acts as a major source of draughts, essentially acting as an open vertical doorway between your home and the cold outside. Without appropriate draught excluders, chimneys can substantially increase your heating bills.
Loft Hatches and Pipework
Gaps around loft hatches and areas where pipes enter your home can create persistent draughts. Even the tiniest of spaces can turn warm air cold.
Effective Draught Proofing Solutions on Windows
Windows, especially older models, are one of the biggest offenders when it comes to draughts. Here are professional approaches to window draught proofing that we recommend:
Draught-Proofing Sash Windows with a Weatherstrip
Traditional sash windows can be particularly prone to draughts because of all their moving parts. For these windows, weatherstrips work effectively. Weatherstrips are typically made of foam or rubber and come with simple self-adhesive tape. This makes these draught-proofing strips quick and easy, helping to keep the warmth inside.
Casement Windows
For casement windows, weatherstrips also work well when applied around the opening sections of the frame. Self-adhesive foam or rubber strips are quick to fit, while silicone or EPDM compression seals provide a more durable, professional finish. Remember to keep trickle vents unobstructed, as they allow controlled ventilation. This helps prevent condensation and maintains good indoor air quality.
Door Insulation Techniques
Doors represent another significant area where heat can escape. Here’s how we address different door types:
External Doors
For external doors, we recommend a comprehensive approach.
Start with self-adhesive foam strips or rubber seals around the door frame. To tackle the gap at the bottom of the door, fit a brush strip or door sweep. These draught proofing strips allow the door to be opened with ease, whilst increasing its insulation abilities. This technique can also help soundproof your property.
A letterbox can benefit from brushed flaps or covers, while keyholes can be protected with simple keyhole covers when not being used.
Internal Doors
Though frequently overlooked, draught-proofing internal doors between heated and unheated spaces (such as hallways, vestibules, and unused rooms) can make a noticeable difference. Foam strips work nicely here, and draught excluder “snakes” or fabric tubes can serve as a temporary measure at the bottom of doors.
Additional Draught-Proofing Areas
Chimney and Fireplace Solutions
For chimneys you no longer use, chimney draught excluders like inflatable balloons can block cold air. If you occasionally enjoy a fire, you might prefer a removable chimney draught excluder. For permanent solutions, a professional chimney cap can prevent draughts while still allowing enough ventilation to keep dampness at bay.
Floor and Skirting Board Gaps
For those annoying small gaps between floorboards, flexible fillers or decorator’s caulk work well.
Larger gaps might need specialist products or even insulation beneath the floorboards. In extreme cases, better insulated floorboards may need to be fitted. Where skirting boards meet the floor, silicone-based sealants provide an effective and discreet solution that won’t spoil the look of your room.
Pipework and Electrical Fittings
Gaps around pipes entering walls can be sealed with silicone sealant or expanding foam for bigger holes.
Similarly, electrical fixtures on external walls might allow draughts and can be sealed with special covers designed specifically for this purpose.
Contact Our Double Glazing Experts to Help Keep Your Home Warm
Although our team at The Advanced Group has offered some cheap and easy solutions for your home’s draught problems, a persistent draught around windows and doors can be a sign they may be a sign they need replacing.
Double glazing has a lifespan of several decades. However, if it is damaged or reaches the end of its lifespan, it will begin to lose its energy-efficient properties. Replacing old or failing windows ensures your home stays warm, comfortable, and cost-efficient.
Our company has decades of experience and fits thousands of homes with double glazing every year in Scotland. If your suspect it is your windows which are the main culprit of your heating problems, give our friendly team a call today on 0141 473 4141.
