Air leakage and draughts
Draughts and air leakage can increase your heating costs by almost 10% and make your home uncomfortable.
Consider incorporating the draught proofing features listed on this page when planning your home design.
On this page:
Where heat loss occurs
Heat loss from draughts in the home can occur through open fireplaces, air vents, and gaps around windows, doors and floors. (See Fig. 1.)
Controlling the ventilation is the key to dealing with draughts.
Aim to allow fresh air into the home only when necessary and stop heated air from escaping. Exhaust fans and rangehoods can help avoid condensation problems.
Fig. 1. Draughts occur through gaps and cracks
Take action
Draught proof your home
Work through the following list of design tips to help rid your home of draught and keep in the heat:
Checklist
1. Ventilation
- Install dampers on open fireplaces.
- Install self-closing exhaust fans if they are in heated areas.
- Vent rangehoods and exhaust fans outside, not into the roof.
- Provide a separate external air supply to heaters that would otherwise burn internal air, like gas heaters. Ensure the air supply can be cut off when you are not using the heater.
2. Draught seals
- Use weather seals on all outside doors and windows, and doors leading to unheated parts of the home.
- Use automatic door closers on outside doors and doors leading to unheated areas.
- Seal well around construction joins, skirting boards, plumbing pipes, exposed rafters and beams.
- Choose door frames and opening windows fitted with draught seals.
More information:
- Case study of successful ventilation and double glazing Waitakere NOW Home[NOW Home website.]
- Checklist for regular maintenance of Windows and doors [Consumer Build website.]