How to draught proof your home

Often there is no point trying to heat a home efficiently if the building’s full of draughts. There’s much folklore around how to keep your home warm and dry. Some may be true, or have basis in fact, and there are even some things that our grandparents knew which we seem to have forgotten — like the use of curtain pelmets to prevent ghost draughts.

Here are three ways to draught proof your home (regardless of whether you own your own property or if you are a tenant):

insulate gaps
insulate glass
draught proof doors.

Insulating gaps

Consider the following tips when insulating gaps in your home:

Wooden window frames: Consider applying an adhesive vinyl v-seal weather strip to the gaps between your window and the frame (available from most hardware stores). Watch an instruction video or view the documentary item on TV3
Aluminium windows: Consider installing brush strips or rubber seals (you may need specialist assistance). For more information, visit the ConsumerBuild site

Insulating glass

Consider the following tips when insulating glass in your home:

Double-glazing: Effective, but costly. Find more information from EECA
Low-e film: Relatively new, this film reduces heat transfer from heat generated inside the home by 92 percent compared to untreated glass. However there is some evidence this may also inhibit sunlight getting in, hence heat gain may be compromised.
Window film kits: EECA’s site Energywise reports that DIY window-film kits cut heat loss through windows by half.
Good curtains: The charity Community Energy Action reports curtains will make more of a difference to the warmth of your house than double glazing.

Draught proofing doors

Consider the following tips when draught proofing doors in your home:

Door sweeps: These cover the gap at the bottom of the door and should be installed after you have applied weather strips to the frame.
Door sausage: Available from most hardware stores for under $10 or make your own
Self-adhesive spongy weather strips: You can get brands like Raven 5m door and window weather strips, and Dynalink door and window weather strips from most hardware stores. They usually cost less than $20. You may need to use small nails or staples to make the strips stick.