AS the cold snap continues, many Brits are looking for ways to turn their homes into cosy fortresses to see out the winter.
And one essential step for warming up your space is eliminating icy draughts.
Warming your property can be an expensive task, so making sure there is no wasted heat is a must for most UK households.
Draughty window and door frames can make your home feel freezing cold, resulting in steeper household bills from more frequent central heating use.
According to specialists, having draughts could be adding £40 annually to your energy costs.
Handy hack
Thankfully, the experts at Which? have shared a quick trick for preventing chilly draughts flowing through your home.
Read More On Winter Hacks
Rather than investing in draught excluders or window films, the pros tackled the source of the issue.
And you only need one tiny tool to make it happen, and you probably already own it.
Using an Allen key, you can eliminate draughty windows and doors in a matter of minutes.
“A lot of uPVC windows and doors have easy adjustment features inside the frames that can eliminate those cold gaps,” the pros explained, pointing out the adjustment mechanism.
The feature, referred to as a cam, helps to pull in a part of the frame called a strike plate.
This means the window and door is able to be pulled tighter when it is closed.
“If it needs too much force to close, simply turn the cam a little the other way to give it a little more room,” the experts advised.
Draught-free
Following this quick step will leave you with a draught-free window this winter.
And if your window doesn’t have an Allen key cam, it might require some “more fiddly adjustments to the hinges”.
However, the experts stressed that it is still a step worth doing, reminding homeowners to check the manufacturer’s instructions before making any adjustments.
And you can pick up a pack of 10 Allen keys for just £3.34 from B&Q.
More ways to tackle draughts in your home
- Place draught excluders at the bottom of doors
- Install weatherstripping around your frames to seal doors
- Fill gaps with caulk or sealant
- Fit a letterbox brush or flap
- Use heavy, lined curtains or thermal blinds on windows and doors
More on home heating
Plus, five ways to keep your home warm without heating and a £4 hack that could save you hundreds.
And adding a 39p buy to your radiators can cut heat loss “by 50%” and slash your energy bills too.
More cheap ways to heat a room in your house this winter and the key mistake to avoid.
Meanwhile, another cheap way to heat your home this winter could save you £240.
And a thermal camera can reveal how cold spots are pushing up your energy bills.
