What Is a Draught Proofing Audit and Why Should You Consider One?
If you’re struggling with chilly indoor temperatures, high energy bills, or fluctuations in comfort, you may want to consider a draught proofing audit. A draught proofing audit is a professional assessment designed to identify areas where unwanted air leaks occur in your home. These air leaks—commonly known as draughts—can lead to energy loss, discomfort, and higher utility bills. A draught proofing audit provides a clear picture of how much air is escaping your home, what areas need attention, and the most cost-effective solutions for sealing them.
In this article, we’ll explain what a draught proofing audit is, why it’s worth considering, and how it complements other home energy assessments, such as the Residential Efficiency Scorecard (RES) assessment.
What Is a Draught Proofing Audit?
A draught proofing audit is a thorough inspection of your home’s structure to pinpoint areas where air is leaking. This assessment helps identify gaps in doors, windows, walls, vents, and other spaces where drafts can undermine your home’s comfort and energy efficiency.
During the audit, a professional energy efficiency assessor uses tools like thermal cameras, smoke pencils, and blower doors to locate and measure the extent of air leaks. The assessor will walk through your home, checking for areas where warm air escapes in winter or cold air seeps in during summer. These leaks can often go unnoticed but can contribute to significant energy waste.
Once the audit is complete, you’ll receive a detailed report highlighting specific areas of concern and providing recommendations for draught-proofing solutions. These solutions may include sealing cracks and gaps, installing weatherstripping, or adding draught excluders to doors and windows. In essence, the audit helps you understand where your home’s insulation and air sealing need improvement and offers a practical roadmap for addressing those issues.
Why Should You Consider a Draught Proofing Audit?
A draught proofing audit is an investment that can deliver substantial benefits for your home. Here are some reasons why it’s worth considering:
Lower Energy Bills
Draughts are a major contributor to heat loss, particularly in older homes or buildings that lack proper insulation. In fact, studies suggest that up to 25% of a home’s heating energy can be lost through gaps and cracks. By identifying and sealing these draughts, you can improve your home’s thermal efficiency, which leads to lower energy consumption and reduced heating and cooling costs.
Enhanced Comfort
Living in a draughty home can be uncomfortable, especially in colder months when temperatures fluctuate. Sealing off air leaks helps maintain a more consistent indoor temperature, ensuring that your home stays warm in winter and cool in summer without the need for excessive heating or air conditioning.
Increased Property Value
Energy-efficient homes are becoming more desirable, and potential buyers increasingly value homes with a strong energy performance. A draught-proofed home is one that retains heat more effectively, reduces energy bills, and contributes to a greener environment, all of which can increase the value and appeal of your property.
Sustainability Benefits
Reducing energy consumption directly translates to a smaller carbon footprint. Draught proofing is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to reduce your home’s impact on the environment. By sealing air leaks, you’re making your home more sustainable, which is an investment in both your financial future and the planet’s well-being.
Draught Proofing vs. Residential Efficiency Scorecard Assessment: What’s the Difference?
While a draught proofing audit focuses specifically on identifying and sealing air leaks, it’s also worth considering a more comprehensive energy performance assessment, like the Residential Efficiency Scorecard (RES).
A RES assessment provides a broader picture of your home’s energy efficiency. It evaluates various factors such as the quality of insulation, heating and cooling systems, window efficiency, and, of course, draughts. A scorecard assessment gives you a detailed energy score based on these factors and provides an action plan for improving your home’s overall energy performance.
Although a draught proofing audit targets one key area—draughts—a RES assessment offers a wider view, helping you make more informed decisions about the upgrades that will have the greatest impact on your energy efficiency.
The good news is that these two assessments are complementary. A draught proofing audit provides a clear starting point for sealing leaks, and the RES assessment helps you evaluate how your home performs in other areas, such as insulation and heating systems. By combining both, you get a full picture of your home’s energy performance and can take a strategic approach to improving it.
What’s the Draught Fix Flow?
At Draught Fix, we’ve created a streamlined process to ensure that your draught-proofing journey is easy, thorough, and results in lasting improvements. We call it the Draught Fix Flow, and it’s designed to guide you from your initial enquiry all the way through to a draught-free home.
Here’s how it works:
Make a Booking
The first step is simple—just make a booking for a draught-proofing audit. We’ll arrange a time that works for you, so our energy efficiency expert can come to your home.
Draught Proofing Audit
Our assessor will carry out a detailed inspection of your home, looking for air leaks around windows, doors, vents, and any other gaps. Using advanced tools, they’ll pinpoint the problem areas and assess how much energy might be leaking out.
Receive a Report and Quotation
After the audit, you’ll receive a comprehensive report outlining the findings of the inspection. This will include a clear action plan with recommendations for sealing air leaks, along with an affordable quotation for the necessary work.
We Fix Your Draughts
Once you’ve agreed to the plan, we’ll get to work on sealing the draughts. Our experienced professionals will use high-quality materials, customised to suit your home’s unique features, to ensure a long-lasting, effective result.
The Draught Fix Flow ensures a smooth process from start to finish, giving you peace of mind and a home that’s more energy-efficient and comfortable.
Do I Need a Draught Proofing Audit?
If your home has draughts or you’re struggling with high energy bills, a draught proofing audit is a great place to start. It’s a cost-effective way to quickly identify problem areas and implement simple, sustainable fixes that improve your home’s efficiency and comfort.
Even if your home isn’t particularly old, it’s still worth considering a draught proofing audit. Newer homes can still experience air leakage due to construction gaps or settling over time. By taking proactive steps to address draughts early, you’ll prevent unnecessary energy loss and avoid more expensive upgrades later.
For those looking for a more comprehensive energy assessment, combining a draught proofing audit with a Residential Efficiency Scorecard assessment can help ensure you’re addressing all potential inefficiencies in your home. This holistic approach ensures that you’re making the right improvements to maximise your home’s energy performance and comfort.
Conclusion
A draught proofing audit is an invaluable tool for any homeowner looking to improve energy efficiency, reduce heating and cooling costs, and increase overall comfort. It’s a straightforward process that provides clear, actionable recommendations for sealing air leaks and preventing energy waste. While a draught proofing audit is a great first step, combining it with a Residential Efficiency Scorecard assessment will give you a comprehensive view of your home’s energy performance, allowing you to make the best decisions for long-term savings and sustainability.
