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Sealing draughts checklist

A draught is usually somewhere less obvious than the window. Find it with a hand or a lit candle before buying anything to fix it.

16 items

Makes your own editable copy. No account needed.

The items

  1. Hand or a lit candle for finding draughtsRun it round doors, windows and skirting on a windy day — a flicker or a cold patch finds the actual gap faster than guessing.
  2. Draught excluder for external doorsA brush strip along the bottom stops more cold air than most people expect.
  3. Letterbox draught flapOften the single worst gap in a house, and one of the cheapest to fix.
  4. Keyhole cover, if the door has one
  5. Draught-proofing strips for window framesFoam or brush strip pressed into the gap between the frame and the opening part.
  6. Gaps under skirting boards filledA gap here runs the length of the wall — small individually, significant added together.
  7. Chimney draught excluder or a balloonOnly for a chimney that's genuinely unused — never block one still connected to a working fire or flue.
  8. Loft hatch draught-proofed and insulatedAn uninsulated hatch is a hole straight into the loft, which is colder than most people picture.
  9. Keyhole and letterbox draughts checked together, since fixing one often reveals the other
  10. Gaps around pipework filled where it enters external walls
  11. Sealant gun and a tube of decorator's caulkFor hairline gaps around window frames and skirting — not a substitute for a proper draught excluder on a door.
  12. Curtains, thicker or linedNot a fix on its own, but they hold warm air against the glass rather than letting it slide down to the floor.
  13. Trickle vents left openDraught-proofing a house completely without ventilation is how condensation and damp start — these exist to let a controlled amount of air through.
  14. Extractor fans checked and left clearA kitchen or bathroom fan blocked to stop a draught just moves the damp problem somewhere less visible.
  15. Floorboard gaps filledOlder suspended floors often have gaps between boards worth as much heat loss as a window left ajar.
  16. Follow-up check on a windy day once everything's sealedConfirms the fix worked rather than assuming it from the effort put in.

Makes your own editable copy. No account needed.

Questions people ask

What's the easiest way to find a draught?
A hand held near a gap on a windy day, or a lit candle watched for a flicker — both find a draught faster than guessing from where the room feels cold.
Where do people usually miss a draught?
The letterbox, gaps under skirting boards, and the loft hatch. Windows get blamed because they're obvious, but those three let in more cold air in most houses.
Should a house be sealed completely airtight?
No — some ventilation is needed to stop damp and condensation building up, particularly in a kitchen or bathroom. Seal draughts, don't block extractor fans or trickle vents.