Having a warm and dry home is important. It’s comfortable in winter and cooler in summer, you’ll also save on heating costs and it’s good for your health. A lot of your home’s heat escapes through your windows and doors, this guide shows you a number of ways to seal up your home, get rid of draughts and prevent the heat from getting out.
Gaps around the exterior of your house are common particularly between the scriber and the weatherboards. The heat lost through all these gaps adds up and are easy to fill in with silicone sealant.
Identify the gap you want to fill. Clean the dirt from the area with a brush and wipe with turps or a rag. This ensures the silicone will adhere properly.
Run a length of masking tape 3mm away from each side of the gap. This will contain the silicone to that area and give you a neat finish. You need to use the right masking tape for the job as some are designed to last a few days while others will last a few weeks.
Make sure the silicone you’ve got is UV resistant, and paintable.
Cut the end of the silicone nozzle on an angle. Start from the top of the gap and work your way down, take your time and ensure a smooth consistent flow of silicone is going into the gap. Applying slightly more silicone at this stage is better than a sparse amount. You want it to go into the gap and not just on the timber.
When you’ve filled the gap, use a silicone applicator tool to force the silicone into the gap, leaving a tidy finish. Wipe any excess off the tool as you go.
Before the silicone is dry, gently remove the masking tape.
After 24 hours you can paint the silicone if required.
Temporary Window Insulation
Double glazing is great for keeping in the warmth but if you don’t have it, you can use some window film as a temporary alternative. It’s pretty easy to install and remove.
Clean the window frame with a rag with a little turps on it to ensure the film will adhere. This is also a good time to clean your window glass.
Apply the double-sided tape provided with the insulation kit to the window sash (the frame which holds the glass in place). You should put it as close as possible to the glass.
Measure your window horizontally and vertically, measuring from the outside edge of the tape and then add 25mm to both measurements. Using these measurements cut the window insulation film to size using sharp scissors.
Remove the backing from double-sided tape.
Apply the window film to the double sided tape, stretching out as many wrinkles as you can. You can then go back around and stretch further but don’t worry if there are a few little wrinkles left.
Take a hair drier and wave it over the film to heat it up, this causes the film to shrink and removes any remaining wrinkles. This should only take around 30 seconds. Stop once the film is taut.
Tidy up any scrappy edges of film by trimming with a pair of scissors.
Door Brush Strips
Gaps under exterior doors allow draughts in and can really effect the heat retention in your home. You can easily fix that though with a weather stop door seal.
Measure the width between door jambs (the frame that the door is secured to). Take 3mm off that measurement and, using a pencil and square, mark that length on the weather seal. Then cut the weather seal to length with a hacksaw.
With the door shut, measure 45mm up from the bottom of the sill and mark it onto the door with a pencil.
Align the top of the weather seal with mark. Butt it hard up against the hinge side of the door with the 3mm gap on the opening side.
Lift up the flap of the brush strip to expose screw holes then screw the weather seal into place. Start from the middle then screw the ends.
Push the strip down hard onto the sill and attach the cam to door jamb on the opening side. This will close the seal when the door shuts.
Open and shut the door to ensure the strip seals against the sill. Make any necessary adjustments to the cam.
Weather Strips
Weather strips are another cost effective way to eliminate draughts and noise. There are a number of different types for different types of windows or doors.
To apply, clean the frame of your window or door with a rag that has a little turps on it to ensure the weather strips will adhere.
When applying a seal to vertical door jambs (the frame that the door is secured to) stick the seal to the flat part of the jamb so the back edge of the door closes firmly onto it. When applying on the horizontal part of the frame, stick the seal to the rebate on the jamb.
Hot Water Cylinder Wrap & Water Pipes
Insulating water pipes and cylinders to prevent heat loss is also a good way to warm up at home and prevent energy being wasted as it can help ensure the heat stays in. Older hot water cylinders can also be a big energy waster so benefit from being insulated.
Wrap any exposed hot water pipes with foam lagging. Simply cut the foam to length and slip them over the pipes.
If your hot water cylinder is running efficiently, it should be cool to touch. If it’s warm to touch this is an indication that it’s old and possibly needs replacing. In the meanwhile, a hot water cylinder wrap is a good solution. These insulate the cylinder reducing the amount of energy they use. Simply wrap the insulation, foil side out around the cylinder and then use foil tape to seal up the join.
