Draught Proofing Windows Doors: Expert Guide to Seal, Save and Improve Comfort
Draught proofing your windows and doors often slips down the list of home improvements, yet it offers straightforward savings and better comfort. By sealing gaps and reducing unwanted airflow, you can lower heating bills and make rooms feel warmer without major work.
You don’t need specialist skills to tackle many draughts: simple fixes like seals, brushes and threshold strips can make a noticeable difference. Tackling those small leaks also helps your heating system work more efficiently, so you get more value from the energy you use.
What Is Draught Proofing?
Draught proofing means sealing gaps and openings around your home—windows, doors, hatches and skylights—to stop cold air moving in and warm air leaking out. It typically involves fitting seals, brushes, strips or draught guards to edges and joints so air movement through unintended gaps is reduced.
You can apply simple DIY fixes like adhesive foam strips or weighted draught excluders, or choose professional draught‑proofing for more durable weather seals around frames. Newer homes often already have effective seals; older properties or worn fittings commonly need additional products to restore an airtight finish.
Problems That Come from Inadequate Sealing
- Higher heating costs: Heat escapes through gaps, so your heating works harder and your bills rise.
- Increased condensation: Cold air meeting warm surfaces encourages moisture to form, raising the risk of damp.
- Mould growth: Repeated temperature swings and persistent damp create conditions where mould can develop.
You should prioritise external doors first, then windows and internal doors between warm and cold rooms, to get the most immediate benefit.
How Draught Proofing Can Cut Unwanted Costs
Sealing gaps around windows, doors and other openings stops warm air escaping and cold air entering, so your heating doesn’t need to run as often. That reduces energy use and lowers your regular heating bills.
Draught proofing also helps control moisture levels by reducing cold spots where condensation forms. This limits the risk of mould and damp, avoiding expenditure on cleaning, repairs or replacement of affected materials.
Improved energy efficiency translates into a smaller carbon footprint, which protects you from the financial impact of rising energy prices over time. Buyers increasingly look for energy-efficient features, so draught-proofing can make your home more attractive and potentially boost its resale value.
Key benefits at a glance:
- Lower heating costs — less energy needed to maintain comfort.
- Reduced repair bills — less chance of condensation-related damage.
- Long-term savings — protection against future energy price increases.
- Improved marketability — energy-efficiency can increase home value.
Check If Your House Needs Professional Draught Proofing
Book a no-cost damp inspection
If you notice persistent cold spots, musty smells, or recurring condensation, arrange a free damp inspection to look for hidden damage. A qualified inspector will check walls, skirting boards, timber frames and loft spaces for signs of mould, rot or moisture penetration.
- What they assess: internal walls, external brickwork, timber and floor junctions
- What you get: a written summary of findings and recommended next steps
Talk with a specialist adviser
If you’re unsure whether draught proofing alone will solve the issue, speak directly to an expert to review your options. An adviser can explain how sealing gaps, replacing seals or treating damp interact, and suggest whether a survey, repairs or ongoing monitoring are needed.
- How to contact: phone or email to book a consultation
- What to prepare: list of problem areas, photos and any previous reports
Frequently Asked Questions
Which materials work best to seal windows and doors?
Use dense, compressible materials that close gaps without stopping movement. Good options include:
- Closed-cell foam tape for small, irregular gaps around window sashes.
- Rubber or silicone bulb seals for sash and casement windows where a resilient seal is needed.
- Felt or brush strips for larger gaps on doors and older windows.
- Threshold seals and door sweeps for gaps under external doors.
- PVA or silicone-based sealant for permanent fixes around frames and where joints meet walls.
Match the material to gap size, exposure to weather and how often the window or door moves.
How do you draught-proof windows while keeping them easy to open?
Choose non-permanent, flexible seals and fit them so they compress but don’t bind.
- Fit adhesive foam or rubber strips to the sash or frame, trimming to avoid interfering with locks.
- Use brush or pile seals where a sliding or pivoting action is needed; they allow movement while reducing airflow.
- Check and adjust hinges or runners so the window closes squarely onto the new seal.
- Test operation after fitting and trim or reposition seals where they catch.
What are the pros and cons of adhesive rubber seals versus brush or plastic seals for doors?
Self-adhesive rubber seals:
- Pros: cheap, simple to fit, good for light- to medium-duty gaps, quiet.
- Cons: adhesive can fail over time, less effective on uneven edges, may need periodic replacement.
Metal/plastic-backed brush seals:
- Pros: durable, cope well with uneven gaps, allow some movement (useful for draughty thresholds or letterboxes).
- Cons: more visible, need screws or channels for fixing, brush wears eventually and can attract dirt.
Choose rubber for low-traffic, neat finishes; choose brush seals where durability and handling uneven gaps matter.
How can you seal your home without cutting off necessary ventilation?
Keep deliberate ventilation routes while sealing unintended gaps.
- Maintain trickle vents or fitted air bricks where required for moisture control.
- Use controllable vents or background ventilators that you can open when cooking or drying clothes.
- Avoid sealing every single gap in older properties; consult guidance on minimum ventilation rates if you plan major airtightness improvements.
- After draught-proofing, monitor for condensation and increase ventilation if damp appears.
How much energy can you expect to save by draught-proofing windows and doors?
Savings vary by property, existing insulation and how extensively you draught-proof.
- Typical household energy savings from effective draught-proofing often range from a few percent up to around 10–15% of heating demand in moderately leaky homes.
- Savings are greater where many uncontrolled gaps exist and where heating is used heavily.
- Combine draught-proofing with insulation and efficient heating controls for larger overall savings.
What standards or qualifications should you check when hiring a draught-proofing professional?
Look for contractors who follow recognised practice and offer guarantees.
- Ask for evidence of experience with window and door draught-proofing and references for similar work.
- Check whether they follow published guidance from reputable bodies (for example, national energy-efficiency or building standards).
- Confirm they provide a written quote, a clear scope of work, and warranty or aftercare terms.
- For listed or historic buildings, ensure they have conservation experience and will use appropriate materials.
