If you’ve ever felt a chilly breeze inside your house when the windows and doors are shut, chances are it’s not a ghost but a draught problem!
Draughty windows are common in many households, especially in older homes. Not only do draughts make your home less comfortable, but they also mean you’re losing precious heat that your energy bills are paying for.
Draught-proofing doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. In this guide, we share our six best draught-stopping solutions to keep you warm and cosy throughout the winter months!
Keep reading to discover:
The benefits of draught-proofing
How to stop draughts from windows: 6 simple solutions
How to draught-proof sash windows
How to draught-proof doors and floors
When to call in a JustFix professional
Benefits of draught-proofing
Before we dive into the ‘how’, let's take a look at why you should draught-proof your windows:
- Lower energy usage: When heat escapes through draughty windows, your heating system has to work harder to make your home warm. Draught-proofing keeps the warm air inside and cold air out, reducing your energy use.
- Smaller energy bills: If your heating system works more efficiently, your energy won’t cost as much.
- Eco-friendliness: Reducing energy use isn’t just good for your wallet—it’s also great for the environment. Sealing draughts helps reduce your household’s carbon footprint.
- Less condensation: By sealing gaps and cracks, you reduce the amount of cold air meeting warm surfaces inside. This helps combat common problems like condensation and damp (if you’re dealing with either, check out our guides on how to stop condensation and how to prevent damp).
- Less dust and dirt: Gaps around windows let in more than cold air. Draught-proofing helps prevent dust, dirt, and even small insects from sneaking into your home.
How to stop draughts from windows: 6 simple solutions
1. Seal gaps with weatherstrips
Self-adhesive weatherstrips are one of the simplest and most effective ways to seal gaps around your windows and prevent draughts.
They’re available in materials like foam, rubber, or silicone and come with an adhesive backing for easy application. Measure the length of your window frames, cut the strip to size, and stick it in place.
Weatherstrips are ideal for sash and casement windows where gaps form between the moving and stationary parts of the frame.
2. Use caulk and sealant to seal cracks
Over time, small cracks and gaps can develop between the window frame and the wall, causing drafts where the cold air seeps in. These are easy to fix with silicone or acrylic caulk, which you can get from any DIY store.
Simply clean the area, apply the sealant with a caulking gun, and smooth it for a neat finish. For the best results, read and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
3. Install double- or triple-glazed windows
One of the most effective ways to reduce draughts is to replace single-glazed or poorly insulated windows with double- or triple-glazed windows. These windows are designed to minimise heat loss and draughts while improving overall insulation.
Although this can be a costly upfront investment, it saves you money in the long term. Better insulation means a more energy-efficient home, so you can expect smaller heating bills down the line.
Interested in upgrading? With JustFix, it’s never been easier to find and book a local glazier to assess your current windows and upgrade you to double-/triple-glazing.
4. Add window film
Window film is an affordable alternative to double-glazing. It’s a great temporary solution for windows that feel cold to the touch, including single-glazed and poorly insulated windows. Like a second layer of glazing, it acts as a secondary barrier to keep draughts out.
Simply cut the film to size, apply it to the window, and shrink it into place using a hairdryer. Check the instructions for your specific products and make sure to purchase enough film for each window in the draughty room.
5. Invest in thick curtains
Thick curtains act as an extra layer of insulation. Close them at night to trap heat and block cold air from coming through the glass. You can even get special thermal/insulated curtains which block draughts and keep rooms warmer. Use a curtain rod that extends beyond the window frame to prevent air from travelling through gaps at the sides.
Need a hand putting those curtains up? Find and book a vetted handyperson in your local area using the JustFix app or website.
6. Use a draught excluder ‘snake’
Draught excluder snakes are fabric tubes that sit on window sills or along the bottom of doorways to block cold air. They’re inexpensive but effective and can be found online or at home stores. If you’re feeling crafty, you could even make your own! Simply stuff an old sock or piece of fabric with rice, sand, or foam and place it in draughty spots.
How to draught-proof sash windows
Sash windows are found in many homes, particularly period properties with poorer insulation. As a Victorian feature, it’s no wonder they’re often one of the biggest culprits for draughts. Their sliding mechanism can leave gaps between the moving parts, which let cold air in.
To draught-proof sash windows, you could use self-adhesive weatherstrips to seal the gaps around the perimeter of the window frame. Secondary glazing is a great way to preserve the window's original appearance whilst upgrading its insulation capabilities.
If your window is only for display, and you never need to open it (to let cool air in or for safety reasons), you could seal it shut. Use a silicone sealant or caulking to close the gap between the window and windowsill, blocking out draughts.
How to draught-proof doors and floors
Windows aren’t the only way for pesky draughts to enter your home; they can also breeze through your doors and floorboards. Here’s how to prevent draughts coming through your front/back door:
- Cover the keyhole: You can buy purpose-made covers that drop a metal disc over the keyhole to prevent cold air from entering
- Install a letterbox brush seal: If you don’t already have one, install a letterbox brush. This sits behind the flap to block out draughts as well as rain
- Fill the space at the bottom: Use a brush seal draught excluder or a draught excluder snake at the bottom of your door to fill the space and block out cold air
If you feel cold air coming up through your floorboards, try using floorboard gap filler, available online and at DIY stores. You could also use flexible fillers and sealants to close the gaps between the floorboards.
When to call in a JustFix professional
Most draught-proofing solutions are cheap and cheerful DIY fixes that anyone can do at home. However, if you’ve tried our quick fixes and the wind still whistles through your home, it might be time to draught in the pros.
If poorly insulated windows are the reason for your chilly home, a professional glazier can advise you about upgrading to double- or triple-glazing. And if cracks and gaps in your window frame are letting in cold air, our fixers are on hand for door and window repairs and replacement.
From putting up insulated curtains to helping with applying caulking or window film, there’s no job too big or small for our vetted tradespeople. Get in touch today, and we’ll match you with a qualified handyperson in your local area.
Simply download the app or use our website to tell us what needs doing, and we’ll connect you with the best fixer for the job, quoting a fixed hourly rate upfront. With a 12-month workmanship guarantee on all jobs, you can relax knowing that whatever we fix stays fixed.
