People never expect the real reason their home’s so cold – a £5 buy banishes draughts & is so quick to install
EXPERTS estimate that approximately 10% of your house’s heat is lost through your letterbox.
To combat this, you can install a budget-friendly buy to help prevent draughts in your home.
The professionals at Hiatt Hardware shared their expertise on tackling draughts from your exterior doors.
They explained that autumn is an ideal time to carry out this DIY project.
Making one simple change can help you save on your energy bills as temperatures continue to drop.
While you may focus on the edges of your door when it comes to draught-proofing, your letterbox can be a significant problem for retaining heat.
The experts recommend installing a draught excluder on your letterbox.
“The interior hinged flap is perhaps the most common way to eliminate letterbox draughts,” they explained.
“The aim is for the flap to act as a cover for the letterbox to stop draughts while allowing mail to be posted through.”
Hiatt Hardware sells a PVC Brush Draught Proof Letterplate for just £5.34.
They detailed the steps to take to install an excluder on your letterbox.
For this, you will need a drill with a small bit, a screwdriver, a spirit level, a pencil, a tape measure, and screws.
First, use your tape measure to measure the dimensions of your letterbox.
Choose between a brush strip of flap excluder, ensuring that it covers the gap in your letterbox.
Most excluders comes pre-assembled but if not, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to prep before installation.
Once it is ready, align the excluder with the bottom of the letterbox opening.
Make sure that it covers the entire width of your letterbox and extends slightly around it.
5 ways to keep your house warm in winter
Property expert Joshua Houston shared his tips.
1. Curtains
“Windows are a common place for the outside cold to get into your home, this is because of small gaps that can let in air so always close your curtains as soon as it gets dark,” he said.
This simple method gives you an extra layer of warmth as it can provide a kind of “insulation” between your window and curtain.
2. Rugs
“Your floor is another area of your home where heat can be lost and can make your home feel chilly,” he continued. “You might notice on cold days, that your floor is not nice to walk on due to it freezing your feet.
“Add rugs to areas that don’t already have a carpet, this provides a layer of insulation between your bare floor and the room above.”
3. Check your insulation
Check your pipes, loft space, crawlspaces and underneath floorboards.
“Loose-fill insulation is very good for this, and is a more affordable type of insulation, with a big bag being able to be picked up for around £30,” Joshua explained.
4. Keep your internal doors closed
“Household members often gather in one room in the evening, and this is usually either the kitchen or living room,” Joshua said.
“This means you only have to heat a small area of your home, and closing the doors keeps the heat in and the cold out.”
5. Block drafts
Don’t forget to check cat flaps, chimneys and letterboxes, as they can let in cold air if they aren’t secure
Next, hold the excluder in place while you use your spirit level to make sure it isn’t askew.
Mark your screw hole locations on the door and then drill the pilot holes.
Use your screws and screwdriver to attach the draught excluder to your letterbox.
Finally, test the flap on your excluder to ensure it fully covers your letterbox gap.
Following these steps will help to ensure your home’s is thermal efficiency this winter.