Draught Proofing — The Cheapest Way to Cut Your Energy Bills

Draughts waste energy and make your home feel cold even when the heating is on. Sealing gaps around doors, windows, and floorboards is a quick win that costs very little.

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£125

Potential annual savings

Typical cost: £100 – £350

Draughts are one of the most common and easily fixable causes of heat loss in UK homes. Gaps around doors, windows, floorboards, loft hatches, and chimneys allow warm air to escape and cold air to enter, forcing your heating system to work harder and costing you more. With energy prices at current levels — gas at 6.76p/kWh and electricity at 24.67p/kWh — even small amounts of wasted heat add up quickly. Draught proofing is one of the most cost-effective energy improvements available, delivering noticeable comfort improvements for as little as £100.

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Potential annual saving

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Heating waste from draughts

What Is Draught Proofing?

Draught proofing involves sealing unwanted gaps and cracks in your home's structure to prevent warm air from escaping and cold air from entering. Common areas include gaps around doors and windows, between floorboards and skirting boards, around loft hatches, and up unused chimneys. A range of products are used including self-adhesive foam strips, brush strips, rubber seals, keyhole covers, letterbox flaps, and chimney draught excluders.

How It Works

Draught Audit

A systematic check of your home identifies all the areas where draughts are entering — around doors, windows, floors, loft hatches, pipes, and chimneys.

Select Products

The right draught-proofing products are chosen for each location — foam strips for windows, brush strips for doors, sealant for fixed gaps, and excluders for chimneys.

Installation

Products are fitted to all identified draught sources. Most installations are straightforward and can be completed in a few hours.

Immediate Results

You will notice the difference straight away — rooms feel warmer, draughts disappear, and your heating system runs less frequently.

Is It Right for My Home?

Draught proofing is suitable for virtually every home in the UK. Older properties tend to benefit most, as they have more gaps and cracks due to building movement and wear over time. It is important not to seal intentional ventilation such as trickle vents in windows, air bricks, or extractor fan outlets, as these are necessary for air quality and to prevent condensation and damp.

Key Benefits

Lowest Cost Solution

Draught proofing is the cheapest energy efficiency measure available, with a full house treatment costing as little as £100 to £350.

Instant Comfort

Feel the difference immediately — rooms feel warmer and more comfortable as cold draughts are eliminated.

Quick Payback

With savings of up to £125 per year and costs starting from £100, draught proofing can pay for itself in under a year.

DIY Friendly

Many draught-proofing measures can be fitted as a DIY project, making it accessible to all homeowners and tenants.

Reduce Heating Usage

By stopping warm air from escaping, your boiler or heat pump runs less frequently, reducing wear and extending its lifespan.

Works With Other Measures

Draught proofing complements insulation and glazing upgrades, ensuring that heat retained by these measures is not lost through gaps.

Cost Breakdown

Our partner network means you'll typically pay less than these averages.

Property Type	Typical Cost	Annual Saving	Payback
Detached	£250 – £350	£125	Under 3 years
Semi-Detached	£175 – £275	£90	Under 3 years
Terraced	£100 – £200	£65	Under 3 years
Bungalow	£150 – £250	£80	Under 3 years

Government Grants Available

ECO4

Draught proofing is an eligible measure under ECO4, often funded as a secondary measure alongside insulation for qualifying low-income households.

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Warm Homes Plan

The Warm Homes Plan may include draught proofing as part of a package of measures for fuel-poor households.