Stormguard Around Loft Attic Hatch Door Draught Excluder Seal Strip Weather Proofing Insulation. (4 x 685mm, Brown)

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If you’ve got a draught of cold air coming into your top landing then it could very well be from your loft hatch. In this post, we’ll look at the causes of draughty hatches. And then talk about some ways to insulate and draught-proof your hatch. Awesome! What causes a draughty hatch? We’re happy to show you how! If we’re not installing something like a Fakro loft ladder that comes with a fully-insulated hatch and frame then we build one bespoke. And in that scenario, we usually opt for a hinged swing-down hatch with a post surrounding the inside of the hatch frame. The hatch then rests against that post when shut and it’s on that post that we apply a rubber ‘P’ seal as illustrated in the diagram below. Cross-section of a hatch and casing with ‘P’ seal What’s the difference between a draught-proof and an insulated hatch?

Slikseal — Stormguard

Controlled ventilation will reduce condensation, maintain a healthy atmosphere and prevent damp and mould growth by letting in air where it is needed. Draughts, however, let in too much air in the wrong place at the wrong time, making draught proofing the cheapest and most effective way to save energy, and money, especially in older buildings How to Draught Proof Your Home 1. Draught Proofing Doors It is not only external doors that need draught proofing. You should also draught proof internal doors if they lead into unheated or uninhabited rooms as this in turn will also prevent the lowering of the overall indoor temperature. Draught Proofing Loft Hatches As energy bills and concern for our CO2 emissions rise it is becoming increasingly important to ensure that your home is as energy efficient as possible. Draught proofing is the first step. Where Not to Draught ProofChimney draught excluders are available from most DIY stores. Plastic bags stuffed with other plastic bags also work – but remember to remove it in summer to let the air circulate. Thereafter, the movement of people around the house, moving in and out, and naturally opening and closing windows and doors will deal with other ventilation needs. While we always recommend insulating your hot water and heating pipes if they are not in a heated part of the home, there is more that you need to look out for. Where the pipes pass through walls and partitions, gaps can appear and draughts will be the result. Cut draughts with ‘snake’ draught excluders (photo, right), or similar strips of material (see over). Note that this should only be a temporary measure – while you’re trying to keep warm. Airflow between rooms is good for a home as it reduces the risk of moist air getting trapped in a particular rooms.

Stormguard Around Loft Attic Hatch Door Draught Excluder Seal

And finally, if you have the very old style of loft door that isn’t hinged or even attached to anything fear not! You should be able to use the techniques we’ve talked about above to draught-proof and insulate that too. For other ways to save, head to our guide on how to save on your energy bill. Draught proofing tips for renters Fit strips of draught-excluder around the edges of the frame, and don’t forget to insulate the hatch itself with fibrous or solid board insulation To make sure you don’t get overcharged for double glazing, read our guide to double glazing prices.

Where to Start and How to Look for Draughts

When insulating a loft, and often forgotten task is to insulate the hatch. Hot air rises and this can very easily escape through the hatch. Make sure that you fix some insulation to the top side of the hatch cover and this will insulate and keep the warmth in your home. A draught is defined as a "current of cold air in a room or other confirmed space" and they are generally a result of unwanted air gaps which allow cold air in from either outside or another unheated part of your home. Stop these and your will stop the cooling effect of the draught. Where to Start and How to Look for Draughts If you don’t use as much energy in your home, you are naturally lowering your carbon footprint as well. Less heating means using less energy, so you can do your bit for the environment by draught-proofing your loft too. Increased Comfort Read on to find out what you can do in your own home – from filling in gaps around pipes to insulating your loft hatch. Plus, learn how to keep warm air in without compromising on ventilation. Draught proofing costs and savings The best thing about draught proofing is that it is something that can be done yourself very easily and you will see an instant benefit as your home will feel much warmer. What is a Draught?

Draught Proofing: 11 Ways to Eliminate Draughts | Homebuilding

The amount you'll save on your bills means that your draught proofing is likely to pay for itself in a few years. Where you have an external door with a draughty gap at ground level, we recommend a brush type draught excluder, which will be durable enough to deal with the constant boots stomping over it, whilst still cutting out the draught.

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Draughty homes are uncomfortable. It’s also a waste of money if the heat that you’ve paid for escapes through gaps and cold air comes whistling in from outside. The good news is that draught-proofing is easy and our DIY draught-proofing guide will help you plug those gaps and stay cosy at home. There are lots of good reasons why it’s essential to draught-proof your loft hatch. Here we examine why it’s a good idea and what you can do to ensure that yours is draught-free! Draught-Proofing your Loft Hatch - Why Bother? Lower Energy Bills Chimneys and fireplaces: If you don't use your fireplace, you could fit a cap over the chimney pot (best done by a professional) or fit a chimney draught excluder from any good DIY store. Areas to focus on are floor boards, skirting boards, where window and door frames meet the wall and the ceiling-to-wall junctions. The less obvious areas are keyholes, kitchen cupboards (where pipes are likely to penetrate walls), loft hatches and downlights.

How to Draught Proof a Loft Hatch | Loft Centre

That said, even then the measurable energy loss is unlikely to break the bank. A 500mm x 500mm loft hatch could lose up to 40kWh/year. Add in the draughts around the hatch’s edge and the cold-bridge effect this creates, and that figure could reach 60kWh/year (varying with how draughty the loft is). This can be a particular problem for down lights that are fitted into the ceiling. Here we recommend using a down light cap or cover that fits over the light fitting, reducing the air flow that can get through the light and into your nice, warm home. They are fire safe and will ensure that the loft insulation does not get pressed into the light fitting causing a fire risk.

Instructional/How to

Tim is an expert in sustainable building methods and energy efficiency in residential homes and writes on the subject for magazines and national newspapers. He is the author of The Sustainable Building Bible, Simply Sustainable Homes and Anaerobic Digestion - Making Biogas - Making Energy: The Earthscan Expert Guide. Once you have covered the obvious spots around the home, try draught proofing some of the less obvious spots. Loft hatches are an area where lots of heat can be lost, so make sure that the hatch fits snugly and some draught proof strips have been fitted around the edges. The best devices have a (very) obvious cord or other noticeable sign that they are fitted. You need something obvious to ensure that you remember to remove them before you light a fire!