How To Draught Proof Your Front Door

Cold draughts coming from your front door can make your home feel cold and uncomfortable during the winter months and may also increase energy costs.

Fortunately, there are many simple ways to draught proof a front door and help to reduce cold air entering your home. From sealing gaps around the frame to improving keyholes, door sweeps and letterboxes, these small improvements can make a noticeable difference to warmth and energy efficiency.

In this guide, we will explain how you can identify draughts around your front door and the best ways to prevent them.

Benefits Of Draught Proofing

Affordable methods of improvement

Could save you money on your energy bills

Prevents cold air from entering the home

Looking For Draughts

To effectively prevent cold draughts coming from your door, you first need to understand where they are coming in.

Start by slowly running your hand around the frame edge to see if you can feel cold air. If you can’t, then your door is probably sealed fine and you may not need to worry about this step. Next, you can check any accessories. These may include the keyhole, letterbox or cat flaps. If you feel cold air coming through make a note and look at the corresponding section below to see how you can draught proof your door.

Draught proofing your home may help reduce heat loss and improve energy efficiency throughout the colder months.*

Best Ways To Draught Proof Your Front Door

Following these simple steps can help to prevent draughts from entering your home through a door. They could also reduce your energy bills and improve the thermal efficiency of your home.

All the prices shown are approximations based on products found online.

Reducing Draughts At The Bottom Of The Door

The edges of a door can be one of the main areas causing a draught. Moreover, the bottom requires a different fix to the rest of the frame. But it is a relatively easy fix to make a draught proof door.

The best fix at the bottom of a door is to use a door sweep. That is a thin rail that connects to the bottom of the door with a brush attached. Furthermore, a door sweep provides a seal and prevents draughts from entering.

For a temporary fix, you may consider investing in a draught excluder. These work in a similar way but they aren’t as secure or efficient. A common problem for draught excluders is that they can move away from the frame when shut externally. That is why a door sweep is the best choice to prevent a draught at the bottom of your door.

How To Stop A Draught From A Letterbox?

It is relatively easy to stop a draught from a letterbox. The two best options are low cost and can drastically reduce a draught coming through the door. Furthermore, a cause of these draughts is use and incorrect closing of the letterbox.

A simple way to reduce this is to install a draught excluder on the internal opening. These excluders work in the same way as the door sweep and block the draughts flowing through the door. Alternatively, you could install an external wall letterbox. That could become a considerably more expensive option if you decide to replace the door and to remove the letterbox opening altogether.

Draught Proofing Frequently Asked Questions

Depending on the type of door that you have, cold air can penetrate in several ways. However, there are many easy fixes to help with these problems. Following these simple steps will help you reduce the draughts coming through your door.

Locate where the cold air is entering.
Find the corresponding section in the article above.
Read carefully and choose which actions will best suit your home.

To fully seal the bottom of a front door you will need to install a door sweep. Installation of a door sweep is relatively easy. There are plenty of free online guides to help with the process.

If the draught is coming from various locations on the door, you may need to update your weather stripping. Again, this is an easy DIY job, but you may want to consult a trusted local trader if you aren’t confident with the process.

These simple applications should help with any problematic draughts from around the edges of your door.

One of the benefits of draught proofing is that it is a relatively low-cost installation. According to thegreenage.co.uk, the average household could save up to £60 yearly from draught proof measures*. That is why it is crucial to take the necessary steps to create a draught proof home.

There are many different ways to keep a poorly insulated house warm. The methods of doing this vary depending on what is causing the problems. The article above focuses on how to draught proof your door. To see more ways to keep an insulated house warm click here.

Draught Proofing Cat Flaps

It may seem obvious due to the large hole a cat flap creates in a door. However, with the right modifications, you can prevent a draught coming through a cat flap.

First of all, if you don’t require a pet flap for whatever reasons you may want to consider replacing your door to remove the flap. Although, that is not a suitable choice for everyone. You can start by sealing around the outside of the cat flap. That will prevent draughts from entering any gaps.

A better option is to reinstall a weatherproof pet door. These offer a seal to the outside that allows your pets to enter and exit freely.

Draught Proofing A Keyhole

Usually, it is older keyholes that cause a problem with draughts. You can resolve cold air coming through the keyhole by installing either a cover or a brush draught excluder.

These both work to prevent draughts flowing through an open keyhole and are extremely easy to install. The brush draught excluder can be a more aesthetic option by fitting on the inside of the escutcheon.

Problems With The Door Frame

You may be looking at a costly fix if it is your door frame causing the problems. Wooden doors frames can warp and leave the opening inefficient.

If the frame isn’t warped but letting in a draught, you may be able to install weather stripping. These are pieces of wood that fit around the door to create a draught proof seal. However, if the frame has warped, it may be time to consider replacing the door.

A new composite or uPVC door will provide more energy-efficiency. Plus, with various styles and accessories, a new door can be as unique as you like.

Black composite door with side panels and white upvc frame

Signs Your Front Door May Need Replacing

While products made for draught proofing can help to reduce gaps and improve insulation, some older doors can continue to let cold air into your home due to warped frames, worn seals and poor thermal performance.

Signs that your door may need replacing include the following:

gaps around the frame
difficulty closing and locking the door
noticeable cold air indoors
worn weather seals
excessive condensation
rising heating costs

Replacing an older front door with a uPVC door or a modern composite door can help to improve energy efficiency, comfort and security throughout the home.

Are Composite Doors Better For Draught Proofing?

Modern composite doors are manufactured with weather seals, improved insulation and thermal efficiency in mind. Compared to older wooden doors, composite doors can help to improve comfort throughout the home by helping to reduce draughts.

Many uPVC doors and modern composite doors include:

multi-point locking systems
improved weather seals
insulated cores
energy-efficient glazing options

If your current front door is damaged, warped or allowing persistent draughts to enter your home, replacing it with a modern composite door may help provide a more effective long-term solution.

Replacement Draught Proof Doors

At St Helens Windows, we provide a wide range of composite doors and energy-efficient uPVC doors designed to help improve thermal performance and reduce draughts throughout your home.

Modern front doors include secure multi-point locking systems, weather seals and insulated cores to help prevent cold air entering around the door edges and the frame.

Whether you are currently looking for a contemporary composite door or a low-maintenance uPVC front door, our experienced team can help you choose a style that suits your property while improving insulation and comfort during colder months.

If you would like to find out more about our replacement front doors, contact our friendly team today on 01744 611203 for advice and further information.

01744 611203