Draughts are a severe issue afflicting a significant portion of the population’s homes. They occur when there are unwanted gaps in the construction of your home that let cold air in and warm air out. To draught-proof your home, you should block up these openings being mindful of rooms that require good ventilation.
Draught-free homes are comfortable at lower temperatures enabling you to turn down your heating, reduce your carbon emissions and save on your energy bills.
Draught Proofing your home
Breathable Loft Lining
Breathable loft lining can add additional wind-proofing into your loft and eliminate dust, dirt and moisture. There are various options available, either a breathable membrane or a thermal foil loft lining.
Both breathable loft lining and thermal foil lining help stop the direct wind from entering your loft and reduce the amount of dust that gets in. However, the thermal foil version also reduces heat escaping, saving you money.
Installed directly into either the internal or external roof slopes, shielding both insulation and roof structure. This breathable loft lining acts as an additional protective layer between your home and the outside, preventing any currents of cool air from entering through the ceiling.
Correct Loft Hatches
A poorly insulated loft hatch means that hot air rises and escapes through your roof, while cold draughts can enter the living space of your home. Many Loft Hatches are installed unsealed, uninsulated and do not meet industry standards. An uninsulated loft entrance will act as a funnel for all of your heat to escape through, costing you more money than getting the job done correctly in the first place.
Having an energy-efficient industry-leading UPVc loft hatch that meets all current building regulation requirements fitted instead will help reduce draughts and improve your home’s energy efficiency.
Alternatively, for a more DIY method, you can put a compression seal or foam strip around the inside of the hatch frame on both the top and bottom. It’s also essential to cover the top of your hatch with insulation on the inside of your loft to give it an extra layer of protection in preventing air from transferring with ease.
Installing Loft Insulation
While a suitable hatch is a good way of reducing draughts, it won’t altogether remove them. In this case, to further draught-proof your home, loft insulation acts as an effective barrier between your home and the elements.
Loft insulation is a very effective way of helping to keep your house warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer by retaining heat within your loft. It will increase your home’s energy performance rating, reduce your carbon footprint, and lower the money spent on heating as a result.
There are various insulation materials and thicknesses on offer, ranging from 100mm to 270mm. While more expensive, insulation with a greater depth provides a better level of protection, reducing the effects of draughts from the outside, causing interferences in your home.
Efficient Loft Boarding
Cracks in your loft floorboards could be causing draughts into your home. You can stop this by replacing your old boards with solid new ones.
As well as this, if you want to make the most out of your loft insulation, it might be worth considering a raised loft boarding system that sits above your loft insulation instead of on top of it, meaning it isn’t squashed and not as efficient.
The award-winning raised loft boarding system will not only mean you do not need to remove or compress your insulation to have boarding, but it actually works to protect it, allowing it to perform at its best. Efficient insulation will reduce the heat loss in your home, saving you money on energy bills. If you’re not confident installing this loft boarding system yourself, at Instaloft we’re proud to be one of the UK’s leading installers of the award-winning Loftzone Storefloor raised loft boarding system and are happy to install your raised loft boarding system for you.
Loft Windows
If your loft has windows, they can be a massive contributor to draughts. The majority of skylights also have ventilation built into them. If you are suffering from draughts, it may be worth considering covering them up during the colder months. If, instead, your draughts are coming through the perimeter of the glass, you can fix this by getting self-adhesive insulation tape or foam strips that can be attached to the frames.
Alternatively, if your skylight has been installed ineptly, look to get a brand new window installed. The Keylite roof window is designed with a thermal collar already present, meaning once installed, the window is fully insulated.
How much can you save from draught-proofing your home?
Depending on the extent to which you draught-proof your home, the average cost will set you back around £200. However, it is estimated that if these measures are installed, the average UK household can save £60 a year on heating bills meaning it would pay for itself in just over three years with its cost-saving.
If you’re encountering issues with draughts, get in contact with a member of our team, and we’ll ensure your home is insulated effectively to reduce your heating bills amidst the current energy crisis.