With the colder weather set to be on its way over the next few weeks, many of us are thinking about how we can keep it out of the house! This piece will discuss some top tips on how you can draft-proof your home for this winter!
Why Draft Proof Your Home?
Drafts can be extremely annoying. Not only do they equal money being poured down the drain, especially when the heating is on, but they can also feel extremely uncomfortable, especially in the winter months. These reasons alone are why you should draft-proof your home as soon as possible, especially before the chill sets in!
Weatherstripping Tape or Draft Stoppers
For immediate relief, products such as weatherstripping tape can help significantly in keeping drafts down. Weatherstrip tape is a particular kind of foam tape that is used to fill the gap between a window or door, which helps keep the drafts out. It sounds simple enough, but it is important to get it right. A strip too thick will stop a door from closing properly, whereas if it is too thin, it will not stop the draft from coming through.
For those who do not want to risk it, why not invest in a moveable draft stopper? These are great for spaces such as under doors, where drafts often creep in and can be moved instantly to whichever door needs it!
Window Upgrade
For those who have extreme draft problems and a bit of budget, the best option is to replace the windows in the house. There are now plenty of styles that are double glazed and offer excellent protection from drafts, especially if you are in a location or property which are prone to them. That being said, if you are renovating a property, now would be the perfect time to make sure you invest in good quality doors and windows to prevent any drafts from occurring. Browse Dmwindowsolutions.com for inspiration on choosing the best options for your home.
Cap your Chimney
Drafty houses can often be expected to have a chimney. It is one of the fastest ways hot air can escape from your house, which is not ideal in winter when you are desperately trying to warm it up! Investing in a cap for your chimney (usually made from terracotta) can not only keep wildlife safe, preventing them from getting stuck in the chimney, but also can help prevent heating escaping through the roof.
Fill in Floorboard Gaps
Last but not least, get your floorboard gaps filled! Floorboard gaps can be slowly leaking drafts into your house, which can be far from ideal, especially if the whole floor is suffering from gaps. Because heat rises, this should be fine for rooms upstairs, but for downstairs, things can get particularly chilly.
Make sure to get a specialist product to fill in the gaps with and bear in mind this task may have to be repeated, as floorboards move every time they are stepped on – which could dislodge the new gap filler!
