DRAUGHT DODGERS

Rachel Penn tried and tested seven superb draught excluders

- Rachael Penn/The Independent

As temperatures drop and energy costs rise, you might be on the lookout for effective ways to keep your house warm, and one easy way to make spaces cosier is by using a draught excluder.

They won't warm up rooms like electric heaters, of course, but the best draught excluders will help keep chills at bay, particularly in older, draughty properties. The household heroes help reduce heat loss by sitting against the bottom of the door, preventing cold air from seeping in through the gap between the door and the floor, while also making it harder for warm air to escape.

According to the Energy Saving Trust draught-proofing your windows and doors could save you up to £40 a year. This is because homes that don't have draughts are more comfortable at lower temperatures, so, you don't need to crank up the thermostat. Plus, when you do have the heating on, that heat is more likely to stay contained in rooms, so you remain warm and cozy.

Whether you're dealing with gaps under doors or a draughty chimney, I've rounded up some of the best draught excluders you can buy right now, From traditional fabric doorstop styles to innovative chimney plugs, whatever your taste or budget, there's a perfect draught excluder for you.

How I tested

I put all the draught excluders below to the test in my Victorian terrace house. As well as assessing how effectively each one kept cold air at bay, I also checked them for wear and tear, how they kept their shape after being washed and noted how easy they were to store when not in use.

I tried the draught excluders in a variety of rooms and tested how well they worked when the heating was on and when it was off. I assessed the following factors, including:

Effectiveness: I tested how well each one blocked out cold air and reduced draughts, paying attention to temperature changes and overall comfort in the room.