How to stop draughts through windows and doors?

Ash_

Hi everyone!

I have a question about stopping draughts coming through windows and doors. I live in quite a cold area in and old unit with gaps in almost every door and window that let a significant amount of cold air through during winter, making my house absolutely freezing and impossible to keep warm. My electricity bill last winter was $2000, and I’d like to avoid that this year.

I’ve attached some photos of the main door causing the issue and a photo of the types of windows I have through the house.

I’m just wondering what I could use to fill the gaps. I am renting so I can’t use anything permanent or adhesive that could potentially pull paint off, and I’d like something I could ideally remove during the warmer months.

The door in the photo has a slight gap but lets so much air through that it blows the blinds around. I can’t quite measure the size of the gap but it is only small.

Regarding the windows, the draught comes through a gap in the top of the bottom part of the window that you push up, where the lock is. I was considering using door snakes to just sit on the tops of these sections but am unsure if these would be sufficient?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated 🙂

MitchellMc

Hi @Ash_,

It would be far easier to resolve these gaps if you were able to work with your landlord. Quite often you’ll find they’re happy for you to install seals to block draughts, as it only improves the property and can help reduce moisture and heating issues over winter.

From your photos, the seal on the door appears like it may just need adjusting so it meets the door properly again. Sometimes they flatten over time or shift slightly. Alternatively, a thin sticky-backed foam weather seal could be installed on the door jamb, which compresses when the door closes to stop the airflow. Most draught-stopping solutions are essentially foam stick-on strips in various thicknesses, and if the landlord was open to you installing them, they would likely resolve a large portion of the issue.

For the windows specifically, door snakes sitting along the top of the sliding section may help a little, but they probably won’t fully stop the draught. A thin foam strip where the sash meets the frame near the lock would usually be more effective. Since the gaps sound quite small, even a very thin compressible foam can make a huge difference.

I note you have blinds. It would be worth asking the landlord if you could install curtains. Heavier curtains that fully enclose the windows will help keep that cold air trapped behind them against the window, instead of letting it migrate out into the room. I've seen an impressive improvement after installing blockout curtains over similar windows.

Also, check whether the window locks are pulling the sash tight enough when locked. Older windows sometimes loosen over time and don’t compress the window properly anymore, which creates those cold air gaps.

Here are a few helpful guides: How to winter-proof your home, How to keep your rental home warm in winter and How to keep your home warm in winter.

Hopefully that helps a bit. Even sealing a few of the worst gaps can make a surprising difference to both comfort and power bills over winter.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell