PESKY draughts in your home aren’t just making you chillier – they’re driving up your energy bills too.
It means hot air is leaking out and cold air is coming in, so you’re more likely to turn up the thermostat or leave the heating on longer.
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But there are ways to block them up for free or for not a lot of money.
The measures could save you hundreds of pounds, according to experts.
The savings will come in handy for millions of households who have seen energy bills rocket to £2,500 a year under the government’s energy price guarantee.
Here are the four biggest draught hotspots to look out for in your home – and how to block them up.
Chimney
Your chimney could be driving up your energy bills, according to Laura McGadie, Energy Saving Trust’s group head of energy.
Draught-proofing it may be bad news for Santa this Christmas, but it could save you a whopping £90 on your energy bills.
Invest in a chimney draught excluder to help you plug the chill.
“A chimney draught excluder inflates to fit inside your chimney and will allow a small vent for air to pass through,” Laura said.
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Energy Saving Trust said one of these costs around £20.
It’s a much cheaper option than paying for a chimney cap, which acts in a similar way – one of these will set you back £150.
Floors
You might not think it, but your floorboards could be costing you a small fortune when it comes to your energy bills.
“Insulating your floors can save you around £110 for the average property, and up to £180 for a detached house per year,” Elvin Nagamootoo, Shell Energy’s head of energy product, said.
The easiest – and cheapest – way to do this is by popping a big rug down on your floor.
You can buy a good-sized rug for around £15 from places like Dunelm and The Range.
Windows and doors
It may come as no surprise that your windows and doors are an energy-guzzling draught hotspot.
Gaps and cracks cost the average home £60 a year, Elvin said.
“A door draft excluder is an effective way to hold back the cold air, and draught excluder tape, available in all DIY stores, is a cheap fix for any small gaps that need filling,” he said.
On Amazon, you can buy 10 metres of the self-adhesive seal for only £2.89.
The tape will stop cold air from getting in and hot air from getting out by sealing any gaps on windows or doors.
If you’re really strapped for cash, old socks, towels or blankets can be stuffed up against doors to prevent any chills from getting through.
While putting clingfilm up against your windows provides an extra layer of insulation.
Loft hatch
It’s easy to forget about your loft if you only use it to store your old junk.
But as heat rises, it can escape through small gaps around your loft hatch.
“Insulate these gaps using foam strips, as you would for doors or windows,” Which? energy and sustainability editor Emily Seymour said.
You can buy a draught excluder seal for £3.75 on Amazon.
According to Energy Saving Trust, insulating your loft properly will save you at least £330 on your bills.
You can buy your own loft insulation on a budget.
You can purchase the 100mm thick roll for around £20 for around eight metres, and you’ll typically need three layers of rolls to really notice the difference, with the recommended thickness being 270mm, says EnergyHelpline.
How else can I save money on my energy bills?
Tumble dryers are one of the biggest energy guzzlers, costing around £1.27 per cycle, according to Uswitch.
Turn it off at the switch and use a clothes horse instead to dry your clothes for free.
Turning your thermostat down just one degree can save you £100 a year, the Energy Saving Trust says.
While properly draught proofing your house can save £45 a year – you can use old socks and towels to put up against your door.
Checking your boiler settings could save you £95 a year – switch off the “comfort” mode and turn the flow temperature down.
Doing those simple tweaks has saved one reader £100 a year.
