How draft proof can you make a old house?

[Ciaransmith]

Evening all,

I seem to be spending hours trying to figure out where a draft is coming from and then how to plug it. Not entirely sure if I'm making any progress because whenever it's windy a big draft comes running across the house.

So my question, is how actually draft proof can you make a house seen as its designed to breath.

Regards
C

 

[andyrew1]

See if your council offer things like thermal survey. We had one done through retrofitwest where it is subsided down to about £70 for thermal camera survery with a big fan on the front door to drop the pressure. It makes all the draughts really easy to find. Confirmed a lot of what we already knew but also a few other things.

Yes the house is supposed to breathe but you can still reduce a lot of the draughts in places you don't want them as long as you ensure things like adequate ventilation under suspended floors and managing moisture properly

 

[larry]

It's probably worth saying that this depends a bit on quite how old and 'period' your property is and what compromises you are happy with, but there are plenty of tips on this forum for preventing drafts (or is it draughts?? Is that the game??) even in older houses.

One thing which is that ventilation and breathability are not the same. Breathability usually refers to the vapour permeability of the actual building materials. On the other hand, ventilation is necessary to get rid of stale damp air, which reduces condensation risk and is healthier. Even if your house is a modern sealed box you must have ventilation (though then that's usually via a MVHR unit).

 

[Ciaransmith]

I have been working my way round the house and sorting draughts out, but keep finding more. Our upstairs is alot colder than downstairs but the heating is on, just finished loft insulation and still not fixed it.

 

[LadyArowana]

Do not discount even tiny things like a keyhole, or an uneven outside door. Those miniscule gaps were quite the culprit in our half basement.