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Winter`s here and the cold air is whistling around all those gaps and cracks in door and window frames.
Most homes need heating in order to stay warm during the winter months and to burn correctly, solid fuel and gas heaters need airflow. The difference between this airflow and a draught is that you control this flow with the correct placement of vents. Draughts on the other hand, are not controllable and they`re annoying and unnecessary.
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How do we seal around doors?
There are a variety of draught excluders available on the market ranging from door and window draughtseals to weatherseals. The weatherseal lifts when the door opens and lowers when the door closes. Draught and weatherseals are available at your local Mitre 10 store.
Foam draught seal strips are sold in a variety of lengths and thickness. The thickness is as important as the length. This seal is provided with an adhesive backing and is stuck around the edge of the doorframe so that when the door is closed it will make a seal to exclude draughts. If it`s too thick then you may have difficulty in closing the door after it has been applied, too thin and the wind will still whistle through. So choose the thickness carefully by trying various thickness of paper jammed in the doorframe to get a measurement.
To seal the bottom of the door, use a spring loaded metal and rubber seal that you simply cut to size and screw to the bottom of the door.
Usually seals are available in a variety of colours, like bronze or silver. Select the seal that best matches your door.
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How can you seal windows?
Windows are best sealed using the draught seal tape. Measure the thickness the same way as for the door. Before applying to either door or window, make sure that the surface is absolutely clean and dry and follow the instructions.
Finally, one the best draught excluders ever can be made by stuffing one of the legs of a pair of ladies tights with soft material and then laying it along the bottom of the door.
Have a nice warm winter!
Written by Chris Bennet.
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Limitation of Liability
This project has been produced to provide basic information and our experienced staff are available either in-store, or via phone or email, to answer any questions you may have. As this information is generalised Mitre 10 is not responsible for the application of the principles in any particular case, as the contents of this project may need to be modified for the particular site and circumstances. Consumers should always ensure that they comply with any local body bylaws that pertain to any construction project and consult a qualified tradesperson where expert services are required. |
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