Are you tired of cold draughts and high energy bills? Discover how to save energy, keep your home cozy, and reduce costs with draught excluders and window seals. In this blog post, we’ll explore various types of draught excluders, offer save energy tips for selecting the right one, and provide installation guidance. By the end, you’ll have a solid understanding of how these simple devices can make a big impact on your home’s energy efficiency and comfort.
Key Takeaways
Draught-proofing is a process that helps reduce heat loss and energy costs.
Installing draught excluders around windows and doors, sealing open chimneys with weatherproof materials, and filling gaps in flooring & walls can help improve home efficiency.
Balancing draught proofing & ventilation helps maintain healthy indoor air quality. Use exhaust fans, open windows/doors, install vents to achieve this.
Understanding Heat Loss NOT USING A drAFT EXCLUDER FOR WINDOWS
Draughts are gaps in your home’s construction that lead to the exterior, often found around internal doors, windows, and other openings. They allow cold air to enter and warm air to escape, resulting in heat loss and higher energy bills.
Draught-proofing aims to block these gaps, conserve warm air and reduce energy usage. This process, in turn, cuts costs and creates a comfortable and cozy atmosphere.
Windows and Doors
Windows and doors are primary sources of draughts and heat loss in a home. Gaps around door and window frames allow cold air to infiltrate and warm air to escape, making your home less energy efficient.
To address this issue, you can consider the following options:
Install Draught Excluders around door frames to prevent cold air from entering and warm air from escaping.
Use weatherstripping to seal gaps around windows and doors.
Install rain deflectors above windows and doors to provide protection against rain and moisture while also reducing heat loss.
By implementing these measures, you can improve the energy efficiency of your home and create a more comfortable living environment.
Sealing these gaps helps maintain a comfortable indoor temperature even at a lower thermostat setting, leading to significant savings on energy bills.
Open Chimneys
Open chimneys are another common source of draughts and heat loss in a home. When not in use, they can allow cold air to enter and warm air to escape, making your home feel colder and increasing your energy bills.
Using weatherproof materials like rubber or foam to seal open chimneys offers several benefits:
Conserves warm air
Prevents cold air from entering
Creates a more comfortable living space
Reduces energy bills.
Gaps in Flooring and Walls
Gaps in flooring and walls can have a significant impact on draughts and heat loss in your home. These gaps facilitate the influx of cold air and the efflux of warm air, reducing the indoor temperature and increasing energy consumption for heating. Additionally, draughts can make your living space feel uncomfortable and may necessitate higher heating levels to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Sealing these gaps with caulk, weatherstripping, or expanding foam can help reduce draughts and heat loss, improving your home’s energy efficiency and comfort.
Types of Draught Excluders
Draught excluders are devices designed to prevent cold air from infiltrating a room through gaps around doors and windows. They are generally made of materials like PVC and come in various sizes to fit different door and window dimensions.
This section will discuss the two main types of draught excluders, namely brush strips and filled draught excluders.
Brush Strips
Brush strips are a type of draught excluder designed to seal gaps around doors and windows. They consist of a flexible strip of bristles attached to a metal or plastic base. These strips are easy to measure, cut, and install, providing an effective barrier against cold air infiltration and heat loss.
Brush strips are a popular choice for sealing gaps around internal doors, as they offer more length than other types of draught excluders and are highly effective at blocking draughts.
Filled Draught Excluders
Filled draught excluders are door or window accessories filled with materials such as hollowfibre, buckwheat hulls, or sand. The filling enables the excluder to fit snugly into the space, preventing draughts and cold air from entering the room. Filled draught excluders come in various designs and sizes, making them an attractive and versatile option for enhancing energy efficiency and insulation in your home.
They can be used to seal gaps around doors and windows, as well as to block draughts from letterboxes and other openings.
Selecting the Right Draught Excluder
Choosing the right draught excluder for your home depends on several factors, including the size and shape of your doors and windows, the type of draught excluder you prefer, and the materials used.
This section will offer tips on how to measure your doors and windows, choose the right material, and customize your draught excluder to fit your specific needs.
Measuring Your Door or Window
To accurately measure your door or window for a draught excluder, you’ll need to measure the width and height of the gap between the door or window frame and the wall. This will help you determine the appropriate size and type of draught excluder to purchase. Be sure to record these measurements and keep them handy when shopping for your draught excluder.
Material Options: Rubber, Foam, and More
Draught excluders are available in a variety of materials, including rubber, foam, and fabric. Each material has its own advantages and drawbacks, so it’s essential to choose one that best suits your needs and preferences. Rubber and foam draught excluders are durable and weatherproof, making them ideal for sealing gaps around doors and windows.
Fabric draught excluders, on the other hand, can be more aesthetically pleasing but may require more maintenance and cleaning. Consider the specific requirements of your home, as well as your personal preferences, when selecting a material for your draught excluder.
Customising for Unique Situations
In some cases, you may need to customise your draught excluder to fit your specific situation. This might involve cutting the excluder to fit a unique door or window shape, or adjusting the filling to better block draughts.
When customizing your draught excluder, consider the type of draught excluder you’re using, the size and shape of your door or window frame, and the materials involved. By taking these factors into account, you can ensure that your draught excluder is both effective and tailored to your specific needs.
Installation Tips for Draught Excluders
Having selected the right draught excluder for your home, the next step is its installation. This section will provide detailed installation guidelines for various draught excluders such as brush strips, filled draught excluders, and methods to seal open chimneys.
Adhering to these guidelines will ensure your draught excluder is correctly installed and functions at its best.
Installing Brush Strips
To install brush strips on your doors and windows, follow these steps:
Measure the gap between the door or window frame and the wall.
Cut the brush strip to the desired size using a utility knife or scissors.
Secure the brush strip to the door or window frame with screws or adhesive.
Ensure that the brush strip is firmly attached and properly oriented to block draughts effectively.
Installing Filled Draught Excluders
When installing filled draught excluders, follow these steps:
Measure the width of your door or window frame and add an additional 10-15 cm to ensure a snug fit.
Cut the draught excluder to the appropriate size and shape.
Affix it to the door or window frame using nails, screws, or adhesive.
Check for any gaps along the edges of the excluder and use caulk or weatherstripping to seal them if necessary.
Sealing Open Chimneys
Sealing open chimneys can help conserve warm air and prevent cold air from entering your home, resulting in lower energy bills. To seal an open chimney, follow these steps:
Measure the width and height of the opening.
Cut a piece of weatherproof material, such as rubber or foam, to fit the opening.
Secure the material to the chimney using nails, screws, or adhesive.
Regularly inspect your chimney for signs of air leakage and reseal the area as needed to maintain its effectiveness.
Additional Energy Saving Solutions
Draught excluders and window seals are just the beginning when it comes to saving energy in your home. This section will delve into further energy-saving solutions like home insulation, use of smart thermostats, and investment in energy-efficient appliances.
Adopting these strategies will enable you to cut down on energy consumption and save money on your energy bills.
Insulating Your Home
Insulating your home can be a highly effective way to reduce heat loss and save energy. Here are some steps you can take to improve your home’s insulation:
Install insulation in walls, ceilings, and floors to minimise the transfer of heat between the inside and outside of your home.
Seal air leaks around windows and doors using weatherstripping and caulk to further improve insulation.
Consider using double-glazed windows or adding window film to reduce heat transfer.
Use draft stoppers or door sweeps to prevent drafts under doors.
Insulate your attic and basement to prevent heat loss through the roof and foundation. By taking these steps, you can improve your home’s insulation and reduce the need for additional heating sources.
Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostats are a great way to improve your home’s energy efficiency. These devices can be programmed to:
Adjust your home’s temperature according to your individual preferences and usage patterns
Manage your thermostat settings more effectively
Reduce energy consumption
Save money on your energy bills.
Plus, many smart thermostats can be controlled remotely using a smartphone or other device, making it even easier to manage your home’s temperature settings.
Energy-Efficient Appliances
Investing in energy-efficient appliances can help to reduce your home’s overall energy consumption and save you money on your energy bills. Some examples of energy-efficient appliances include:
Refrigerators
Dishwashers
Washing machines
Dryers
These appliances are designed to operate more efficiently than their standard counterparts, using less energy to perform the same tasks.
When selecting an energy-efficient appliance, consider the size, energy efficiency rating, cost, and features of the product to ensure that it meets your needs and preferences.
Maintaining Healthy Ventilation
While draught-proofing and energy-saving solutions are essential for maintaining a comfortable and efficient home, it’s also important to ensure that your home has proper ventilation. This section will discuss the significance of maintaining a healthy balance between draught-proofing and ventilation, pinpoint areas that require good ventilation, and offer tips to enhance indoor air quality.
Balancing Draught-Proofing and Ventilation
Achieving a balance between draught-proofing and ventilation is crucial to maintaining a comfortable and healthy living environment. While it’s important to seal gaps and prevent cold air from entering your home, it’s also essential to allow fresh air to circulate and prevent moisture buildup.
By using several draft excluder for windows strategically, you can maintain a balance between energy efficiency and proper ventilation, ensuring that your home stays warm and comfortable while also maintaining good indoor air quality.
Identifying Areas That Require Good Ventilation
Certain areas of your home, such as:
Bathrooms
Kitchens
Attics
Utility rooms
Require adequate ventilation to prevent moisture buildup and maintain healthy indoor air quality. Proper ventilation in these areas is essential for preventing the growth of mold and mildew, which can cause respiratory problems and other health issues.
To improve ventilation in these areas, consider using exhaust fans, opening windows and doors when possible, and installing vents in walls or ceilings.
Our Store
Uncover an extensive selection of brush strips, from brush door seals to garage door brush seals and gate brush strips, at our store. Our range caters to various sealing needs, providing options for different door and gate sizes. Visit our store to discover the perfect brush strips for your specific home requirements.
Explore our full stock range of weather stripping products here: Our Range
Tips for Improving Indoor Air Quality
Maintaining healthy indoor air quality is essential for the well-being of your home’s occupants. To improve indoor air quality, consider using air purifiers, conducting regular cleaning, and employing natural air fresheners. Additionally, be mindful of the materials used in your home, such as paint, furniture, and flooring, as these can emit harmful chemicals and contribute to poor indoor air quality.
By taking these steps, you can create a healthier and more comfortable living environment for you and your family.
Summary
In conclusion, draught excluders and window seals are simple yet effective solutions for reducing heat loss and conserving energy in your home. By understanding the sources of draughts, selecting the right type of excluder, and properly installing and maintaining them, you can create a cozy, comfortable, and energy-efficient living space. Additionally, be sure to consider other energy-saving solutions, such as insulating your home, using smart thermostats, and investing in energy-efficient appliances, to further improve your home’s energy efficiency. With these measures in place, you’ll be well on your way to a warmer, more comfortable, and cost-effective home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are 5 energy saving tips?
Save energy and save money with these simple steps: understand your energy bill, switch off standby, draught-proof windows and doors, turn off lights, be careful with washing, avoid the tumble dryer, spend less time in the shower, and swap your bath for a shower.
How can I save energy overnight?
To save energy overnight, be sure to close curtains and blinds between the windowsill and any radiators, switch off lights and electrical appliances, and avoid using the tumble dryer. Additionally, draughtproof windows and doors, turn down your heating and keep oven doors closed while cooking.
How can Martin Lewis save energy at home?
Martin Lewis can take the one-degree challenge to reduce his home temperature from 21 to 20 degrees and save 10% on his heating bill. He can also adjust the thermostat, reduce boiler flow temperatures, use energy efficient appliances, and employ thrifty energy saving tips to reduce energy use at home.
How do I stop draughts from coming through my window?
To stop draughts from coming through your window, apply self-adhesive draught strips between the window and frame, hang thicker curtains with insulation lining, use window insulation film or tape, and consider secondary glazing to create an effective long-term solution.
How do I measure my door or window for a draught excluder?
Measure the gap between the frame and wall of the door or window to determine the size for your draught excluder.