Draughtproof your home

Draughts refer to unwanted cold air that enters your home through gaps and cracks in the building. Tenements are often draughtier than newer homes, which can increase heating costs. Draught proofing is when you block those unwanted gaps and can save you around £55 a year.

By not letting too much air in at colder times of the year, you’ll use less energy to heat your home. But if your home is already fairly well draught proofed, adding further draught proofing may increase the risk of poor air quality.

To find a draught look for obvious gaps and cracks under and around doors and windows (if light is coming through then so is air). Listen for rattles and whistling noises, especially on very windy days and feel for moving air coming in.

The Energy Saving Trust is a great resource to learn more about draughtproofing and ventilation including where to target, methods for draughtproofing, costs and energy savings.

Tutorials for making your own draught excluder for doors can be found online, including this one from the National Trust.

Edinburgh Tool Library runs draughtproofing workshops and provides free draughtproofing assistance for households at risk of fuel poverty.