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Draughty doors are a nuisance. They make your home colder and increase your energy bills. But there are several ways you can draught-proof doors so you feel more comfortable and keep more money in your pocket.
The good news is that these methods don’t cost at a lot to implement and they provide tremendous benefits in the long run. The additional good news is that most people can easily implement these suggestions. You don’t need a vast array of specialist tools or knowledge.
How do draughts get into your house?
Usually, draughts get into your home through windows, doors, letterboxes and cracks in the walls. To stop those draughts, you need to find and fix the entry points. If you’ve got draughty windows, take a look outside to see if you can spot any cracks in the wall that could be causing the draught. If you find any, use a suitable sealant for the location to block the gap.
All of the ways to draught-proof doors mentioned on this page can be used on front doors, back doors and internal doors.
Place a novelty draught excluder at the foot of the door
The simplest way to draught-proof a door is to place a draught excluder at the bottom of it. You can use them on front doors, back doors and internal doors. The kind of excluder I’m talking about here looks a lot like a cushion, except it’s the width of a door and a few inches high.
They’re usually made from washable fabric materials and come in a wide range of styles.
People like these draught excluders because they’re fun, add a bit of personality to an otherwise dull item and they’re ridiculously easy to install – you place them on the floor behind your draughty door and you’re good to go.
The biggest issue with material draught excluders is they get dirty and become unpleasant to look at. Especially on front and back entrance doors. The simplest way to stop this from happening is to wash them every few weeks or when they start showing dirt.
Fit a brush strip draught excluder to the bottom of the door
If you want something a bit more permanent that won’t need washing every few weeks, fit a brush strip draught excluder to the bottom of the door. The typical design is simple – they usually have a metal strip at the top which you screw (some models have a self-adhesive strip) into the bottom of your door, and a thick-bristled brush at the bottom which covers the gap between the bottom of the door and your floor.
They’re relatively easy to install and very effective at stopping draughts. You’ll need to make sure you leave a very small gap between the bottom of the brush and your floor so you can easily open the door. If you don’t do this, you’ll struggle to open the door and, in time, the brush may leave marks on your carpet or flooring.
If you can’t buy a brush strip the exact width of your door, don’t worry. The two parts separate so you can cut them to the correct width.
How to cut and fit a brush strip draught excluder to the bottom of a door
- Close the door and use a retractable tape measure to measure the width of the door (at the bottom). Make a note of the measurement.
- Separate the metal strip and the brush by firmly holding the metal strip with one hand and slide the brush out with the other.
- Transfer the measurement to the metal strip and make a mark so you know where to cut.
- Place the metal strip on a firm surface such as a portable workbench and use a hacksaw to cut it to the right length.
- Now measure and mark the brush insert and use a pair of side cutting pliers to cut it to the same length as the metal strip. Slightly bend the brush insert in the middle to ensure the bristles retain in the carrier.
- Slide the brush insert back inside the metal strip and lightly screw it to the door using the screw guide holes.
- Open the door to make sure you can do so comfortably and the bristles aren’t catching on anything.
- Make any final adjustments you need to make and tighten the screws.
Use a letterbox draught excluder
Letterboxes are especially prone to causing draughts. On a windy day, a loose or light letterbox will lift open and close at will. With each gust of wind, a draught blows through your letterbox and into your home. It might not be much of an issue if you have a long hallway, but if you have a small porch or your front door opens directly into your living room, you’ll certainly notice the draught.
A simple solution to this annoying problem is to fit a letterbox draught excluder. It’s basically a PVC or metal-framed device with thick two vertical brushes on the inside. One at the top and one at the bottom. The compact bristles stop the wind blowing into your home, but don’t prevent the postie from posting letters. They’re easily fitted to your door by way of two or four screws.
Some devices have a flap over the bristles for added draught-proof-ability.
To find the correct one for your door, measure your letterbox and buy an excluder large enough to cover the hole.
Letterbox draught excluders are available in a range of colours to match the decor of your home and the style of your front door. The average cost is between £5 and £10.
