Windows are often the biggest culprits for letting in cold air. To identify draughts, run your hand around the window frame or use a lighter to detect airflow. If the flame flickers, you’ve found a draught.

If you identify your home’s windows as a problem area, you can address the problem affordably. Self-adhesive weather strips are cheap to buy, costing as low as £2.94 from Hiatt or £6 from Dunelm.

The simple rubber-based design helps to prevent the movement of air from the outside.

These strips can be cut to different lengths to accommodate your window size but you must choose the correct width. 

An often-overlooked source of draughts is the letterbox. If your letterbox is slightly aged and has become damaged as a result – you can also expect some repetitive and irritating flapping throughout the day and night. 

Installing a new letter plate with a dedicated flap or brush can prevent heat from escaping and reduce the unwanted extra noise.  

Cover gaps in the flooring:

Skirting boards and floorboards can expand and contract with temperature changes, leading to gaps that let in cold air. 

To keep the cold air out, we recommend applying hard-setting fillers that are also flexible enough to tolerate movement such as mastic sealant or decorator’s caulk. 

The beauty of these fillers is that they don’t have to clash with your decor, they come in a variety of colours and the decorator’s caulk can be stained to match your interiors.