How to draught-proof your home
Draughts make a warm home feel cold and waste the heat you're paying for. Most fixes are cheap, quick, and DIY.
Draught-proofing is one of the most cost-effective things you can do — sealing the gaps where warm air leaks out and cold air sneaks in. Here's where to look and what to use.
Where draughts hide
- Around external doors — edges, bottom gaps, letterbox and keyhole.
- Around windows — especially older wooden frames.
- Unused chimneys and fireplaces.
- Gaps between skirting boards and floors.
- Floorboards and around suspended timber floors.
- The loft hatch.
- Cracks where pipes or cables pass through walls.
- Cat flaps and old extractor points.
What to use
- Self-adhesive foam or brush strips for door and window edges.
- A door draught excluder (brush or 'sausage') for the bottom gap.
- A letterbox brush and keyhole cover for the front door.
- A chimney balloon or wool draught stopper for unused chimneys.
- Flexible sealant or filler for skirting and floor gaps.
Don't over-seal
Homes need some ventilation to stay healthy and avoid condensation. Never block air bricks, trickle vents, or extractor fans, and don't seal rooms with open-flue gas appliances. Seal the draughts, keep the deliberate ventilation.
Prioritise the worst offenders
If you only do a few things, start with the front and back doors and any unused chimney — these are usually the biggest single sources of draughts. A brush strip on the door bottom, a letterbox brush, and a chimney draught stopper take an afternoon and make an immediate, noticeable difference to how warm rooms feel.
A simple draught-hunting trick
On a windy day, slowly move a lit candle or a thin strip of tissue around door and window edges — where the flame flickers or the tissue moves, you've found a draught to seal. It's a quick way to map exactly where your home is leaking heat.
More practical advice in our Insights & Guides.