Mark every draught source and visit your DIY shed, or go online, and look for suitable remedial products. Believe it or not, your problem will not be unique — every possible draught has been considered and appropriate products produced. Where to Buy Draught Proofing Supplies

this initial burst of enthusiasm lead to him trying (and failing) to build a biogas digester to convert pig manure into fuel, at a Kent oast-house, his first conversion project. The difference between draughts and ventilation is one of control. Draughts are uncontrolled, while ventilation is ours to switch on and off at will. Home ventilation in the form of extractor fans and cooker hoods will ensure that condensation is properly dealt with, at source. A rectangular piece of material, at least 40cm wide and just longer than the width of the door (or you can chop a leg off an old pair of trousers and start at step five) Areas to focus on are floor boards, skirting boards, where window and door frames meet the wall and the ceiling-to-wall junctions. The less obvious areas are keyholes, kitchen cupboards (where pipes are likely to penetrate walls), loft hatches and downlights. I got a sewing machine for Christmas and am starting off with draught excluders. Lots of options for making them on t'internet - I was intending to make simple tube and stuff with old rags or kapok. Better suggestions seem:

In this step-by-step tutorial for how to make a draught excluder, we'll show you how to make a simple draught excluder using some left-over fabric from your other sewing projects. You don’t need to be able to sew or even have a sewing machine to make this simple draught excluder and if you’re new to sewing, it’s a perfect beginner’s project. Why making a draught excluder is easier than you may think His interest in renewable energy and sustainability was first inspired by visits to the Royal Festival Hall heat pump and the Edmonton heat-from-waste projects. In 1979 Alternatively, you could invest in a brand new letterbox —most new models are designed to be energy efficient and come fitted with both brushes and flaps. Controlled ventilation will reduce condensation, maintain a healthy atmosphere and prevent damp and mould growth by letting in air where it is needed. Draughts, however, let in too much air in the wrong place at the wrong time, making draught proofing the cheapest and most effective way to save energy, and money, especially in older buildings How to Draught Proof Your Home 1. Draught Proofing Doors

A final option is a brush draught excluder for keyholes. The bristles prevent chilly draughts but allow keys through. 4. Don't forget to deal with the letterbox Stopping a draught is sometimes what you need more than turning the heating on, a simple draught stopper could save you money as well as stop cold air entering your home.

Fitting a draught excluder with a brush strip

Cut a leg off your tights and fill it with stuffing. When it's full and just a little bit smaller than your draught excluder, tie a knot in the end. Another option is hinged flap draught excluders made from rubber. These are fitted in a similar way but feature a rubber wiper section. 3. Cover the keyhole In Australia, sand-filled draught excluders are called door snakes. All you need is a soft filling that is compact enough to prevent draughts and you can get started.

It takes a matter of minutes to make a plain draught excluder, and if you use interesting fabric it doesn't have to look boring. Or you can turn it into a ECOutletsnake, like the fab vintage ones above. What you need

The verdict: Doorstops and draught excluders

verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ Optional: To make a snake draught excluder, simply sew on two buttons for eyes and a piece of red ribbon (with a V-shaped piece cut out of one end) for a forked tongue. How to insulate your house rule number one: avoid gaping gaps to outside. As you might expect from a hole leading to the exterior, the keyhole in your front door can be a pesky cause of draughts. For this reason, it really does pay to cover it up.