How to Eliminate Drafts with Smart DIY . Tips for eliminating air infiltrations and sealing drafts in doors and windows.
Among the good rules for saving on winter heating and summer cooling, there is always the rule of eliminating drafts from doors and windows . It is true, windows and doors are the weak link in the insulation of a building, they weigh on our bill and undermine the thermal comfort of the house.
How to eliminate heat loss with DIY
This is why today we will explain how to eliminate drafts with DIY with all the instructions and products to seal drafts that are generated on door and window frames. DIY allows you to solve big problems with just a few euros.
To eliminate drafts with a DIY solution, all you have to do is buy specific products to install on the profiles of doors or windows , but nothing alarming: the cost of eliminating drafts with a DIY solution ranges from 5 euros up to a maximum of 40 – 50 euros when you have to work on multiple windows.
With the same strategies, it is possible to seal drafts that enter the house from the roller shutter box. A poorly insulated box can cause the onset of mold, bad odors, humidity and burden the air conditioning system of the house. For the complete guide, we invite you to visit the page: how to insulate the roller shutter box .
Preliminary cleaning
Before installing one of these products, it is necessary to carefully clean the window frame to be insulated, especially in the area where you will apply the draught excluder .
Your cleaning expertise will have to increase exponentially when you install a draft excluder under doors or windows that are in contact with the floor. Given the position, the draft excluder will be in constant contact with dust; perhaps you have never thought about it but along with the air from drafts, a lot of dust also enters through those cracks which in this case will be retained or slowed down by the draft excluder .
Sealants to eliminate small cracks
Not just profiles! Adhesive draught excluders can be very useful but, in the case of small cracks on door and window frames, you can intervene with silicone-based sealants to be applied with a plunger system and very thin nozzle.
Sealing drafts in doors and windows (or even electrical outlets) with silicone is very simple. These products are useful not only near the walls but also on the frame itself (perhaps when this is made of wood and very old, to better fix the glass).
There are white, gray or transparent sealants on the market. Choose the product that best suits your needs. Generally, all silicones on the market are suitable for these materials:
- uPVC
- Metals
- Wood
In case of large holes in metal or wood, rather than a sealant you should aim for specific fillers. In fact, there is no shortage of two-component fillers for wood, aluminum, iron and other metals.
For use of sealant:
- Clean the surface thoroughly and, using a solvent, remove any traces of old glue.
- Cut the tip of the applicator by making a very small hole corresponding to the thread provided by the manufacturer.
- Apply using the appropriate nozzle.
Silicone does not have an expiration date and, if properly maintained, can last even more than a year after being opened! Store the cartridge in a dry place, away from frost or direct sunlight.
To get an idea of the quantity of sealants on the market and their price, we invite you to visit the Amazon page dedicated to sealants; you can find it at this address .
How to Eliminate Drafts with DIY
As mentioned, to eliminate drafts with a DIY solution you will need to purchase small ad hoc devices.
When drafts come from under doors or from the perimeter area of doors and windows, it is not possible to use silicones! In this case it is possible to use different devices, all easy to install.
In this paragraph we will point out some of them but make sure you always make your choices based on the specific characteristics of the window or door to be insulated .
- Tesa – Transparent Door Rod
This is a rod that is installed under the door using a strong adhesive strip. The rod has very thick nylon bristles that protect against drafts, cold and dust.
Gluing is very simple and effective. The rod measures one meter in length, so if your door is smaller you will need to get some wire cutters to shorten it: the rod is made of PVC but has a metal component so the classic scissors are not enough.
This product is suitable for doors and windows of any thickness but covers drafts caused by cracks up to 12 mm high. The product is sold at a price of 10.89 euros on Amazon but those who do not like online shopping can also find it at Leroy Merlin.
- Stormguard Rubber Draught Excluder, Self-Adhesive
Sometimes it happens that drafts do not come only from the lower part of the door or window, often drafts come from the entire profile of a frame!
In this case it is necessary to apply an additional thickness on the inside of the window frame, that is, the part that comes into contact with the wall or with the door and window frame. The product we have just mentioned is made of rubber and adds an extra thickness ranging from 4 mm to 7 mm.
It is a self-adhesive rubber, easy to install and also to cut. The total length of the roll is 7 meters. The product is offered on Amazon at a price of 12.50 euros. A similar product (3 meters long) Jumbo Rubber Foam also offered on Amazon at a price of 16.00 euros.
