When the cold arrives, some homes lose heat through the joints of the windows, the doors or the window blind boxes. Before paying for a renovation, you can review the points where the air gets in and apply simple solutions.
1. Find out where the air comes in
On a cold day, check whether you feel drafts near the windows, the doors and the window blind boxes. Look at the joints and the closures. Do not use a flame to find air leaks.
2. Put draft stoppers on the windows
Adhesive draft stoppers can help seal small gaps between the moving parts and the frame. Measure the gap first, choose the right thickness and clean the surface before sticking them on.
A strip that is too thick can make the window hard to close, so check that it is compatible before you fit it.
3. Seal the fixed gaps
If there are small cracks between the frame and the wall, use a sealant suitable for those materials. Do not cover the drainage holes of the window or the vents that have to stay open.
4. Use the right curtains
Heavy curtains can improve how comfortable the area near the windows feels. Closing them at night helps limit heat loss, but avoid covering radiators if that makes it harder for the air to circulate.
5. Check the window blind box
Some homes have leaks in the window blind box. You can look at its joints and consider a specific seal, as long as it does not interfere with the mechanism or with safety requirements.
6. Ventilate without leaving the windows open too long
Ventilate every day to renew the air inside. In winter, opening the windows for a few minutes can be enough in many situations, although how long you need depends on the home and on the ventilation available.
7. Do not forget the doors
If air comes in under an exterior door, a compatible draft excluder can reduce the drafts. Make sure it does not make the door hard to open and that it does not interfere with emergency exits. If the gap is wide or the door does not close properly, read how to stop drafts coming in under your doors.
Conclusion
Start by finding the leaks and fixing the most obvious ones. Small measures can improve comfort, but the result will depend on the condition of the windows and on the insulation of the home as a whole. If there is persistent damp, condensation or mold, it is worth investigating the cause instead of only sealing the surfaces: why damp appears in the home and how to prevent it tells condensation, water coming in from outside and leaking pipes apart. And if the room is still cold after sealing, the thermostat setting matters too, as explained in what temperature to set the heating to save money.
These steps work well together with the ones that need no investment in our guide to 10 tips to save money on electricity at home: adjusting the heating, making the most of daylight and watching the consumption on your bills all work much better when the house is not losing heat through the joints.
