DIY fact sheet
Block the draughts in your home
DIY Fact Sheet
Block the draughts in your home
Blocking the draughts around your home will help you maintain a comfortable indoor environment. Although it may seem insignificant, reducing air leakage in your home can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs. Although gaps and draughts waste energy, it is important to keep note that a completely air-tight home is not desirable. Some ventilation is necessary to locking the draughts around your home will help you maintain a comfortable replace used internal air that contains odours, carbon dioxide and contaminants. indoor environment. Although it may seem insignificant, reducing air leakNote: Homes heated gas heaters level of fixed ventilation. ageby in unflued your home can save uprequire to 20%aon heating and cooling costs. When draught proofing, it is important to ensure you allow for this requirement.
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Although gaps and draughts waste energy, it is important to keep note that a
What you completely need air-tight home is not desirable. Some ventilation is necessary to
replace used internal air that contains odours, carbon dioxide and contaminants.
Note: Homes heated by leaks unflued gas heaters require a level of fixed ventilation. Some materials used to block the include:
When draught proofing, it is important to ensure you allow for this requirement.
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Caulking compound, plaster or sealants
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Clear contact adhesive or skylight diffuser
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Caulking compound, plaster or sealants Insulation>batts or chimney diffuser
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Self-closing extractorbatts fan ‘cap’. > Insulation or chimney diffuser
What you need
> Some materials used to block the leaks include: > Clear contact adhesive or skylight diffuser > Self-closing extractor fan ‘cap’
How to install How to install
Cracks and gaps between bricks, around plumbing intrusions and along Cracks the roof lineand aregaps just some examples of between bricks, around air-leaksintrusions that canand be plumbing found your along theinroof linehome are justas a result of it moving some examples of air-leaks over that cantime. be found in your home as a result of it moving over time.
Firstly, need the to identify theof sources of air leakage your home. Obvious gaps can Firstly, you need to you identify sources air leakage in yourinhome. Obvious gaps can be found by completing a visual inspection of each room. You can also feel around for be found by completing a visual inspection of each room. You can also feel around for air movement or hold a lit candle around suspected air leaks and watch for a flicker. air movementSome or hold a lit candle suspected airtoleaks and are watch for a flicker. common sources around of air leakage and how seal them discussed below. Some common sources of air leakage and how to seal them are discussed below. Fixed wall vents (FIG 1)
Fixed wall vents 1) are found in older homes and are no longer required under Fixed (FIG wall vents building regulations. Youhomes can permanently seal the internal vent by filling it with Fixed wall vents are found in older and are no longer required under caulking compound, plaster or sealants. A simple temporary solution is to cover building regulations. You can permanently seal the internal vent by filling it with the vent using a sheet of clear contact adhesive. caulking compound, plaster or sealants. A simple temporary solution is to cover Vented skylights (FIG 3) the vent using a sheet of clear contact adhesive.
Figure 1
You can reduce air leaked from a vented skylight by installing a clear plastic seal
Vented skylights (FIG 2) at the base of the skylight shaft. Diffusers are also available with or light diffuser tinting, which help to further reduceby summer heatagain. You can reduce air leaked can from a vented skylight installing clear plastic seal or light diffuser at the base of the skylight shaft. Diffusers are also available with Exhaust fans (FIG 4) tinting, whichMost can exhaust help tofans further reduce heat air. gain. are not sealedsummer to the outside You can fit a self-closing lid over the outlet which blows open when the fan is on and falls shut when the fan stops.
Exhaust fans Most exhaustConstruction fans are notjoints sealed to5) the outside air. You can fit a self-closing lid over (FIG Cracks and gaps between bricks, around plumbing intrusions the roof the outlet which blows open when the fan is on and falls shut when and the along fan stops.
Figure 2
line are just some examples of air-leaks that can be found in your home as a result
Constructionofjoints (FIG 3) time. Caulking compounds that are silicone or latex based can be it moving over usedbetween to seal cracks andaround gaps. Silicone sealants are weather resistant and can be Cracks and gaps bricks, plumbing intrusions and along the roof used for exposed areas. When working with sealants be sure to wear gloves and line are just some ofthe air-leaks can found in your home a result a face examples mask. Insert sealantthat tube intobe the gun then ensure theas surface of the cracktime. is clean. Carefully cover the entire gapsilicone or crackor with sealant. of it moving over Caulking compounds that are latex based can be used to seal cracks and gaps. Silicone sealants are weather resistant and can be Windows and doors used for exposed areas. working with sealants be sure to wear glovesforand See the ‘SealWhen your doors and windows to reduce draughts’ fact sheet detailed a face mask. information. Insert the sealant tube into the gun then ensure the surface of the crack is clean. Carefully cover the entire gap or crack with sealant.
Figure 3
THE HIlls sHIRE Figures 1-3 Area CounCIl to block draughts. 3 Columbia Court, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 PO Box 7064, Baulkham Hills BC 2153
Resources
Phone Facsimile
pdf/sealing_out_draughts.pdf, http://www.refitnsave.org.au/products/draught-proof/120-sw-draft-proofing
Email council@thehills.nsw.gov.au www.thehills.nsw.gov.au
yourself: http://greenityourself.com.au/projects/watch-now-how-draught-proof-wall-vents, NABERS Windows Green andit doors resources (sealing out draughts): http://nabers.com.au/page.aspx?cid=567&site=3, http://ateamnsw.com.au/
See the ‘Seal your doors and windows to reduce draughts’ fact sheet for detailed resources. Resources Green it yourself: http://greenityourself.com.au/projects/watch-now-how-draught-proofwall-vents, NABERS resources (sealing out draughts): http://nabers.com.au/page. aspx?cid=567&site=3, http://ateamnsw.com.au/pdf/sealing_out_draughts.pdf, http:// www.refitnsave.org.au/products/draught-proof/120-sw-draft-proofing Prepared by Steplight on behalf of The Hills Shire Council. Reproduced with the permission of The Hills Shire Council.
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