Heating your home as winter approaches can be harder than you'd expect, which is why we're always looking for the best tips and tricks to keep it warm. Draughts are one of the main culprits: they let cold air in and warm air out, making rooms feel chilly even when the heating is on.
You may have already sealed the obvious gaps around doors and windows, but cold air can find its way in through some less expected spots, too.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, draught-proofing around windows, floors and doors could save around £55 a year in Great Britain, while tackling an open chimney when it’s not in use could save a further £45. A draught-free home will also feel comfortable at a lower temperature: turning your thermostat down from 22°C to 21°C could save £120 a year.
Wondering where to check? Here are seven often-overlooked spots to check – and the simple fixes that could help keep the warmth in.
Floorboards
While the beauty of exposed floorboards may well exceed the annoyance of their draughtiness, there is a way to have the best of both worlds. For a quick solution, draught-proofing strips or flexible floorboard filler, as favoured by Sarah Beeny, can be used to seal larger gaps without having to replace the floor. Otherwise, layering rugs over bare boards can help to reduce the chill.
Gaps around pipes and cables
Any point where a pipe, cable or other service passes through a wall or floor is a potential route for cold air – particularly if there's a sizeable gap around it. Small gaps can usually be sealed with silicone fillers, while large openings can be filled with expanding foam.
Volden Volden White Silicone-based General-purpose Sealant, 300ml
Volden Volden White Silicone-based General-purpose Sealant, 300ml
Unused chimneys
That old fireplace may no longer be in use, but it could still be letting cold air into the room.
An open or poorly sealed chimney can act like a direct route between your home and the outside, particularly in older properties. A removable chimney balloon or chimney draught excluder can help reduce unwanted airflow – but they shouldn't fully block the flue so you still get enough ventilation.
Loft hatches
Unless you're climbing up the ladder to fetch your Christmas decorations, a loft hatch is probably forgotten about for most of the year. But an ill-fitting hatch or gaps around its frame can allow cold air to tumble down from the loft and into your home.
Check that it closes snugly and look for gaps around the edges, then add draught-proofing strips around the frame as you would a door — a relatively cheap fix that can help keep the warmth where it belongs.
STORMGUARD STORMGUARD 05SR779006MW 6 m Acoustic Silent Seal and Draught Excluder - White
STORMGUARD STORMGUARD 05SR779006MW 6 m Acoustic Silent Seal and Draught Excluder - White
Skirting boards
Those tiny gaps between your skirting boards and the wall – or between the skirting and floor – can be surprisingly effective routes for cold air. Wondering how to fix them? Run a suitable flexible decorator's caulk along the gaps to seal them up, taking care not to block any ventilation that the room relies on. It's a quick job that can make a noticeable difference in older homes.
Letterboxes and keyholes
Your front door doesn't have to be visibly gappy to let cold air in. Letterboxes and keyholes are small but direct openings to the outside, so they're worth checking if you can feel a chill when you stand near the door. A letterbox with an internal draught excluder or brush seal can help, while a simple keyhole cover can reduce airflow around the lock.
Diall Diall Brown Letterbox draught excluder, (H)80mm (W)342mm
Diall Diall Brown Letterbox draught excluder, (H)80mm (W)342mm
Extractor fans
Your extractor fan might be doing its job when it's switched on, but when it's off, it shouldn't be allowing outside air straight back into your home. If you can feel a draught coming through the fan, check whether the backdraught shutter is missing, damaged or stuck open. Replacing the shutter or the fan unit may be all that's needed.
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