Draught proofing manual

Transcription

1 Draught proofing manual 1

2 Why draught proof? Draught proofing is one of the cheapest and effective ways to save energy and money in your home. Draught proofing may cost between 75-90, depending on the size of your house, and the measures needed, but if you draught proof yourself, the typical payback is between 3-4 years. You may even be able to get your home draught proofed for free, please see an FDT energy advisor to discuss this. By draught proofing your home you are blocking up gaps that let warm air out and cold air in! By preventing this warm air escaping you could save up to 20% on your energy bills in addition to keeping your home warm and comfortable. With a well-insulated home, it is important to have some ventilation in order to keep rooms from becoming stuffy. However older houses have much higher levels of air changes due to the large numbers of small openings, structural cracks, gaps between floor boards, open fireplaces etc. and so in practice it is quite difficult to over-apply draught proofing in older houses. Despite this, be aware that in rooms with high levels of condensation such as Kitchens and Bathrooms ventilation is essential to prevent mould and other problems. Also remember that, due to health reasons, adequate ventilation is essential in rooms with solid fuel fires, gas fires or a boiler with an open flue. Contents Product information and tools 3 How to find draughts in your home 4 Introduction to Retro Strip B 5 Introduction to FS Strip 6 Introduction to 21 B Strip 7 Fitting instructions 8 Letter box brush 9 Door Brush 9 Draught EX 10 Reflective radiator panels 10 Glazing options 11 Contacts 12 2

3 Product information and tools All the products that you use in this draught proofing workshop are available to buy at cost price from FDT. Products are suitable for use on wooden surfaces and can also be glued on to UPVC windows. The products are widely used by contractors and are not adversely effected by paint or staining. The products used here are white plastic. However, wooden and metal draught proofing products are also available and some people may prefer these aesthetically. Draught proofing products 1. Retro Strip B for use on Windows and Internal Doors 2. FS Strip for use on Sash Windows and French Doors B Strip for External Doors and larger gaps 4. Straight door brush 5. Letter box brush Product features The deflection seal enables ease of operation by reducing closing forces The seal performance is not affected if painted over The product has a minimum 10 year life time Product Specification Supplied in 2.1 metre lengths Carrier is rigid high impact pvc-u with pre-punched holes at 150mm centres 20/25mm nails are required Tools needed Hammer (8oz) Anvil Cutters Scissors Tape measure Philips screw driver Junior hacksaw and/or pliers Pieces of stiff thick cardboard (approx 20cm x 20cm) to protect windows when hammering Nail punch Pliers Meter block for 45 degree cuts Fine sandpaper to sand edges 3

4 How to find draughts in your home You may already be aware of draughts in your home, but if you are not or you would like to find more on a cold windy day hold the back of your hand up to gaps where you think cold air may be getting in to your home. Be sure to check gaps around your windows, front, back and internal doors, light fittings, floor boards, letter boxes, loft hatches and every other place where you think cold air is getting in. You can also use a candle, with care, to detect draughts in your home. Of course there are also likely to be gaps where warm air is escaping and you will not be able to feel these draughts with your hand in the same way, so you may need to do a bit of detective work! Don t forget to check for draughts between the frames of doors and windows. If you have older windows make sure you check for draughts between the glass and the frame where the putty may have fallen out or shrunk. Main Sources of Draughts 4

5 Retro Strip B For windows and internal doors, including sash and casement windows Retro Strip B can be easily fitted to windows, including sash windows, internal doors and around loft hatches. Sash windows - When applying to sash windows, first measure and cut strips for each side and fit from the inside. Once the sides are in place, measure and cut the bottom horizontal piece from the inside and then fit. When applying to the top sash where possible apply the strips from the outside of the window, where access is prohibitive try either a Retro B or 21 B strip from the inside. Ensure that strips nailed around the frame do not prevent or increase difficulty of opening and closing the window. FS Strip sash meeting rails and French doors Sash windows - this strip can be used to cover the horizontal gap where the top and bottom sash window meet. If this FS strip is not large enough then try using a self adhesive P strip or a zero gap strip stuck on the top of the bottom sash. 5

6 French doors - On French doors these strips can be used where doors meet. 21 B Strip for use on external doors and large internal gaps Fitting to external doors ensure that the door is shut and fully locked. Apply the strips to the top of the door frame first and then the vertical sides. You may wish to mitre the strips in the corners at 45 angle. Ensure the compression of the seal is 3mm and there is visual movement in the seal when the doors is opened and closed. 6

7 Fitting Instructions 1. Cut with garden pruners (anvil blades give the best cut) or a junior hacksaw. 2. Cut each strip generously to start maybe 1 cm too long, then check carefully before trimming to exact size required. 3. Cut each strip and fit it and then cut the next one and so on. 4. Use the supplied 20/25mm stainless nails which are rustproof and have small heads. 5. Use all the pre-formed nail holes, however at the end of the strips, depending on how you have cut them, you may need to make an additional nail hole in the strip. This should be done approximately 1 inch from the end of the strip, into the same small groove where the pre-drilled holes are positioned this is to minimize any risk of splitting the casing. 6. Don t drive the nails all the way in at first - just half way - this will allow fine adjustment of pressure and position later. 7. The plastic flexible trim should push up against the closed window or door with gentle pressure to seal any gap but not so hard that they prevent the window closing or cause too much friction on the sliding sash. 8. With each strip in place the nails can be driven home and their angle altered slightly during hammering to increase or decrease this pressure to ensure contact with the window/door. Fully drive home nails perpendicular to surface but do not over pressurize (or this may drive the nail through the PVC carrier). 7

8 Letter box brush This package includes 4 screws to attach. Make sure that you position first and check that your post can be easily posted through and will not get stuck in the brushes. Straight door brush can be used on both external and internal doors, including carpeted floors. The package contains two end clips and 5 screws to attach. Firstly cut the plastic carrier to fit your door - make sure that you do not cut the end with the screw hole. Then cut the brush strip to the correct length and crimp end with pliers. Use the plastic clip as a template to mark and form the second hole in the plastic carrier. Finally fix brush to the bottom of the door with clips and screws provided. 8

9 Draught EX floor board insulation, this has been estimated to save up between a room, per year. Draught EX can be ordered with all the equipment shown bellow, it comes in 3 sizes: small 3mm or less, medium 2-7mm or large 6-11mm. Tools needed How to fit Reflective radiator panels radiator panels reflect the heat from your radiator in to your room thereby preventing heat being passed through the walls. Essentially they act to reduce your heating bills by reducing boiler burning times as you need less heat to keep your room at a comfortable temperature. 9

10 The panels are sold in sheets approximately 600mm wide by 520mm high. The panels can easily be cut to fit any size of radiator ensuring that they cannot be seen. Panels are extremely easy to fit. Simply slide down the back of the radiator. A bamboo cane or a wooden spoon is useful tools to get in to hard to reach places. Once panel is in place it can simply be secured to the wall using good quality double sided tape. Glazing Options Double glazing film this is an economical alternative to double glazing, it is easy to fit and should only cost between 8-10 from your local B&Q or Homebase. All you need are scissors to cut and fit and a hairdryer to install. Secondary Glazing - If you are considering some form of secondary glazing then you may first wish to tackle only the obvious draughts around windows with draught proofing strips. Secondary glazing removes draughts but has the added advantage of reducing heat loss through conduction and stopping the fall of cold air from window surfaces while providing extra sound insulation. The Magnaglaze magnetic system is an attractive self-adhesive secondary glazing system which attaches to the perimeter of the 2mm acrylic sheet and then to the window frame. The glazing can be removed easily by pulling the magnetic strip, attached to the acrylic, away from the metal strip attached to the window. To replace, simply align the strips and the magnetism pulls the sheet into place. Is it suitable for my window? The surround of the window needs to be flat and at least 15mm wide. The only other limit to the magnetic system is that it will only hold up to about 20 square feet of 2mm acrylic. Larger areas will need additional clips or the use of 3mm acrylic. If the window frame is suitable it may be possible to stabilize the acrylic with a magnetic strip in the middle of the window. Advantages Magnaglaze not only cuts out drafts but also provides some double glazing heat saving and increases sound insulation. Simple to fit but measure the window frame carefully. It can be easily removed and stored as required. Disadvantages Care is required when cleaning or when storing to prevent the acrylic getting scratched. Do I still need to add draught strips to the sash window? If the sash window is very draughty then it is advisable to reduce the draughts with draught stripping as well as using Magnaglaze secondary glazing. FDT would like to thank Hyde Farm CAN for the original draught proofing workshops 10