It’s great to cosy up at home during the winter months, but a rogue draught can leave you feeling uncomfortable. Draughts aren’t just annoying, they’re also expensive, as most people will simply turn up the heating to cover the chill, leading to higher energy bills. In Newark, in older properties such as Victorian terraced homes, draught problems can make a home feel colder. Luckily, most draughts are easy to deal with, and once you’ve found the source there are lots of solutions. Here are some ways you can find and deal with common household draughts.

Draughty floors

The trend for wooden floors means that many homes have draughty floors and skirting boards. It’s usually easy to identify these draughts, as you’ll be suffering from cold feet, and luckily, they are simple to fix. When you install a wooden floor, make sure you use proper floor insulation to prevent draughts, and use sealant to finish off any gaps in the skirting board. If there are gaps between floorboards, use a flexible silicone based sealant to allow movement. If you need a temporary fix, then a large rug can keep out the cold, but isn’t as efficient as proper insulation.

Roofs and lofts

If you feel the chill coming from upstairs, then it’s possible you have a draughty roof. Around a quarter of heat is lost through your roof, and if you have a cavernous loft space, then it’s easy to get a chill through the entire house. Some common areas where drafts occur include:

• Around the loft hatch
• Around chimneys and vents
• Close to roof windows
• Inside the loft – feel for cold areas and do a tissue paper test to pinpoint draughts
• Around the edge of recessed lighting or other fixtures

The easiest way to fix these sorts of draughts is to properly insulate your roof. However, around areas such as roof windows, there are usually quick fixes that can be done such as applying sealant around the frame.

Windows

Windows are often a prime spot for draughts, and simple issues such as a broken locking mechanism can cause a room to feel chilly. However, some people incorrectly assume that windows are the issue when they feel the cold, when it’s poorly insulated walls that are the problem. Using a high-quality insulation will ensure that heat is kept inside the house, and can make your home more energy efficient for years to come.

Doors

Every time you open the front door, heat is lost, but it can also be causing a chill even when closed. After the roof, doors are one of the most common areas of heat loss, yet preventing the issue can be as simple as adding a draught excluder. Add a cover for your letterbox and keyhole, and ensure the door closes properly without gaps in the frame.

If you have a draughty home that needs insulation, get in touch with SuperFOIL.