It could save you as much as £85 a year (Picture: Getty Images)
As Britain faces prolonged freezing conditions and markedly higher energy prices, households across the country are seeking practical solutions to reduce their heating bills.
And experts consistently highlight draught-proofing as the most effective and affordable measure to improve warmth and cut energy consumption.
Various studies suggest that gaps around doors, windows, and floors account for 10 to 20% of heat escaping a home, and the Energy Saving Trust says draught-proofing can save households around £85 annually.
Christine Matthews, a heating appliance expert, previously called draught-proofing the ‘first and most cost-effective line of defence’ against heat loss.
Traditional draught excluders are effective in preventing cold air from hallways infiltrating living spaces, while sealing leaks with silicone strips and using weather strips around doors and windows can also keep the cold out (and the heat in).
But other experts have revealed that all you need to achieve the same effect is a rolled-up towel.
Using a towel or even old clothes is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to create draught excluders — simply roll them up and place them against the bottom of doors or windows to block any gaps.
You can fix elastic bands around the rolled-up towels to keep them in place.
It’s such a good tip, in fact, that last year consumer champion Which? ranked it as the best draught excluder — above store-bought solutions — saying this method ‘blocked out even the strongest draughts’ in their test.
According to Checkatrade, professional draught-proofing costs around £50 per window, £100 per door and £100 for cracks in the walls.
They add that retrofitting a house with draught-proofing measures can cost around £180.
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And draught-proofing extends beyond immediate financial savings on energy bills, it also supports broader environmental objectives.
According to the National Audit Office, heating the UK’s 28 million homes accounted for 18% of all UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2021, the most recent year for which data is available.
Minimising heat loss allows lower thermostat settings, reducing both energy bills and carbon footprints.
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With energy prices remaining elevated and cold conditions persisting, basic steps like installing draught excluders, applying silicone strips, and using rolled towels can substantially increase home warmth and reduce expenses.
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