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How to Draught Proof Your Home (Practical Steps)

Casper Arboll
Draughty old English door

Draughts are one of the biggest reasons a home feels cold, even when the heating is on. Warm air slips out through tiny gaps around windows, doors and floors, the kind you only notice once you go looking for them.

The good news? Most of these gaps are easy and cheap to fix. A bit of foam here, a brush strip there, and suddenly your home holds heat better and costs less to run.

Here are the quickest, most affordable draught-proofing jobs that make the biggest difference.

1. Windows

Most modern windows are already fairly tight, but older frames leak.

Check for:

  • Perished rubber seals
  • Gaps where frames meet the wall
  • Rattling when it’s windy

Fixes:

  • Self-adhesive foam or rubber strips
  • Silicone sealant around frame edges
  • Secondary glazing film in winter for single glazing

Cost: £5–£40

Time: 10–30 minutes per window

2. External doors

Front and back doors are major heat-loss areas.

Fixes:

  • Brush strips along the bottom
  • Rubber seals around the frame
  • A covered letterbox flap
  • A keyhole cover if your door has an old-style escutcheon

Cost: £5–£25

Impact: Often immediate — you can feel the difference in hallway temperature

3. Loft hatches

Warm air rises. If the loft hatch isn’t sealed, your heat goes straight into the attic.

Fix:

  • Stick-on insulation foam around the hatch frame
  • Add a layer of insulation board on top of the hatch

Cost: £10–£20

Impact: Noticeable if your upstairs feels colder than downstairs

4. Floorboards & skirting gaps

Homes with suspended timber floors often lose heat through the gaps.

Fix:

  • Flexible filler for small gaps
  • Draught-proofing strips between boards
  • Rugs to reduce airflow in problem areas

Cost: £5–£40

Good to know: Don’t block air bricks — they’re essential for ventilation under older floors.

5. Fireplaces & chimneys

Unused chimneys act like an always-open window.

Fix:

  • Inflatable chimney balloon (remove before using the fire)
  • Chimney sheep (wool-based draught stopper)

Cost: £15–£35

Impact: One of the highest-value draught fixes

6. Pipes, cables & loft penetrations

Small gaps around pipes let in surprising amounts of cold air.

Fix:

  • Expanding foam for large holes
  • Silicone sealant for small ones

Cost: £5–£10

How much can draught proofing save?

For a typical UK home:

  • Up to £60–£125 a year on heating
  • Warmer rooms, fewer cold spots
  • Less strain on your boiler or heat pump

It’s also one of the few upgrades that can improve your EPC rating at very low cost, because it reduces heat loss through simple airtightness improvements.

When to call a professional

Most draught proofing is DIY, but you may want help if you have:

  • A period property that needs sensitive work
  • Complex sash windows
  • A large or unused chimney
  • Suspected damp or ventilation issues
  • Plans to improve airtightness as part of insulation or heat-pump prep

If you’re significantly improving airtightness, it’s good practice to ensure ventilation stays healthy, especially in older homes with solid walls.

Final outcome

A draught-proofed home feels calmer, warmer, and cheaper to run. It’s not glamorous work, but it’s one of the easiest ways to make winter more comfortable without spending thousands.

One question to leave you with:

Where in your home does the air move when it’s windy? Start there.

draughtinsulationdraught proofing