Draught Proofing: Distinguish Unwanted Gaps from Required Ventilation

A draught is uncomfortable, but sealing every visible opening is not a sensible household plan. Some openings serve ventilation or safety functions. Ask a competent professional to distinguish the unwanted leakage from the building functions that must remain.

Record where cold air is noticed and under which conditions. Photographs and a room sketch can help describe the problem without dismantling fittings or blocking openings to test a theory.

A window joint, door threshold and service penetration may need different treatment. Ask the provider to identify the assessed location and explain the proposed remedy.

Do not infer a whole-house diagnosis from one cold corner. If the concern is wider, an appropriate assessment may be more useful than a collection of unrelated sealing products.

Tell the assessor about combustion appliances, extract systems and previous alterations. Required vents, flues and air paths should not be blocked as a convenience measure.

Energy Saving Trust's draught-proofing guidance distinguishes uncontrolled leakage from needed ventilation. For your home, the professional should explain how that distinction affects the actual work.

Ask what material or component is proposed, what existing parts remain and whether adjustment or repairs are needed first. An accessory should not hide a damaged frame or another underlying problem.

Request care and replacement information for the fitted products. A small worn seal is easier to maintain when the owner can identify it.

Keep a record of the work and any expected follow-up. Report continuing discomfort or a new moisture concern rather than adding more sealing without advice.

For UK properties, applicable ventilation, electrical, gas and building requirements need suitable local assessment. The useful result is a defined improvement to unwanted leakage, with the home's necessary functions preserved, rather than a building whose openings have been covered without understanding their purpose.

Photo: Marija Zaric / Unsplash. Stock image for context; not a photograph of a project reviewed in this article.