Properly sealing windows and doors

In short: Leaky windows and doors let heat escape and noticeably raise heating costs. With sealing tape, brush seals, or silicone, many leaks can be fixed yourself.

In more detail: Over time, rubber seals age and lose their elasticity, which creates gaps.

In detail

• Draught test: A lit candle or a sheet of paper in the door gap reveals airflow and thus leaky spots.
• Self-adhesive sealing tape: Foam or rubber sealing tapes can simply be stuck onto clean, dry surfaces.
• Brush seals: Especially suitable for the bottom edge of doors, as they still allow the door to open despite sealing.
• Sealing with silicone: For lasting joints between window frames and masonry, elastic silicone works better than rigid filler materials.
• Window rebate seals: Replaceable rubber seals in the window frame can usually be renewed without special tools.
• Draught stoppers: As a quick, temporary fix, fabric rolls placed in front of the door’s bottom edge help against draughts.
• Professional help: For badly warped window frames or extensive leaks, a professional assessment is often worthwhile (wand-streichen-schritt-fuer-schritt, silikonfuge-erneuern).