Here at The Hairy Worm, we specialise in manufacturing and supplying a variety of high-quality sealing products for draught proofing. Today we are going to focus on some top tips for draught proofing, so you can choose a method that is right for you.
Take Action
Before we go into detail with tips for draught proofing, it’s important to know why you’re doing it. Draughts can commonly come in through the base of doors, where you can add door seals and brush strips to stop cold air coming in, but they can also come in through letter boxes. Draughts can also be an issue in garages and industrial areas. The main issue with draughts is that by cooling the building, it will be more difficult to keep the area warm, and you will require more energy, leading to higher bills. Excluders can also help to reduce condensation and damp, making the area much more pleasant
Finding the Draughts
In order to deal with the problem of a draught, you need to find the source. Search the property for uncovered gaps to see how you can stop warm air from escaping, and stop the cool air getting in from the outside. You will want to look at your windows, doors, floorboards, loft hatches, keyholes, letterboxes, chimneys and fireplaces.
Sealing Gaps
There are various different methods to seal gaps in your building, including weatherstripping tape, brush strips at the bottom of external doors, draught excluders, flexible sealant and compression threshold strips (as well as letterbox brushes and covers).
Draught-proofing Windows
You can get self-adhesive foam or rubber strips to attach to window frame, with rubber strips being the strongest option. These come in different thicknesses and qualities, and you simply cut it to size, peeling away the backing paper to stick to the window frame. It’s important that it’s not too long or it will get caught when closing the window, and if it’s too short, you’ll still be left with a gap for air to come through. Don’t pull or stretch the strip as if it gets misshapen, it won’t perform as well.
Draught-proofing Doors
The biggest gap for air to come through is usually the bottom of external doors, so fitting a brush strip or hinged flap strip is one of the best options. Cut to size so the bristles or flexible hinged strip touches the floor but doesn’t drag too much. Simply screw into place. Like the windows, you can also use a self-adhesive strip or as a temporary fix, a fabric excluder, but this is less effective.
Other Areas to Draught-proof
As there are other areas where air can come in, it is also worth addressing these. You can Fit your letterbox with a strong, spring-mounted flap and even include an additional interior flap or brush unit – just make sure to measure the letterbox first. You can also get covers for keyholes, and fill gaps in floorboards, use self-adhesive strips on loft-hatches, and so on.
The Importance of Ventilation
Whilst these methods will help to insulate your property, it’s also worth remembering that it is still necessary to ventilate the spaces, especially in rooms that produce a lot of moisture (kitchens and bathrooms). Make sure there is still adequate airflow by using extractor fans, wall vents, trickle vents and under-floor grilles or airbricks.
Contact Us
For more information and advice about draught proofing, you can get in touch with us by completing our contact form or by emailing us at info@thehairyworm.co.uk. Alternatively, you can also call us on 0161 622 0020 in order to speak to a member of our dedicated team directly. We will be happy to help with any queries you may have for us draught exclusion and the products that we sell.
