It whistled down the hallway, lifted a flyer from the doormat and nudged it along the skirting as if the house itself were exhaling. I watched the thermostat climb and fall like a shrug, my socks no match for the cold ribbon curling under the door. We’ve all had that moment when the heating’s on, the bills are rising, and the room still feels like a train platform. Later, in a corner of the discount aisle, I found a foam tube meant for plumbing. Two quid. Ten minutes later, the hallway went quiet. The kind of quiet you notice.
The simple £2 fix that punches above its weight
Most draughts don’t roar. They creep under doors, flick at your ankles, and slowly steal the warmth you’ve already paid for. That gap at the threshold is a tiny tunnel to the outdoors, and that tunnel is money. A professional door sweep solves it, sure, but the price can sting for a strip of plastic and rubber. A humble piece of foam pipe insulation does near enough the same job, for pocket change. **It works because it seals the gap on both sides.** The foam compresses, moves with the door, and shrugs off scuffs. It looks unassuming. The impact is not.
Picture a rented terrace in Salford with a stubborn draught that turned every evening into a jumper convention. One length of 15–22 mm foam insulation, slipped into an old pair of tights, became a double-barrel excluder that hugged both sides of the door. The tube cost £2 at a pound shop, the tights came from the back of a drawer. Under the door it rolled, and at once the floor lost its chill. The meter stopped its nervous twitch. Small fix, big mood change.
Why does this cheap trick work so well? Air wants the easiest route, and a door gap is a motorway. Block that path with something compressible and continuous, and the pressure drops, the flow slows, and comfort climbs. The foam creates a softer seal than wood against wood, so fewer micro-channels survive. Add the “double” arrangement and you tame both the hallway side and the room side. **The result: fewer draughts, lower bills, warmer feet.** It’s not magic. It’s physics in leggings.
How to build the £2 draught-excluder in ten minutes
Grab a 2 m length of foam pipe insulation, the type that slips around copper pipes. Many DIY shops and pound stores sell it for roughly £2, especially the 15–22 mm bore with a 30–40 mm outer diameter. Cut it into two sections that match the width of your door. Thread each piece into the legs of an old pair of tights or thin socks, leaving a 5–8 cm stretch of fabric between them. Slide the whole thing under the door so the foam sits tight against both sides, and the fabric bridge rests under the door’s base. Trim cleanly. That’s it. *It took ten minutes and cost less than a bus fare.*
Common snags? Measure the door width first; if the foam is too long, it buckles, and if it’s short, you get leaks at the ends. Don’t overstuff the fabric or you’ll jam the door. If your gap is tiny, peel away a sliver of foam with a craft knife for a slimmer fit. And if you’ve got a deep threshold, try two different diameters so both sides touch down. Let’s be honest: no one really does that every day, but this is a once-and-done job. Treat it like threading a needle: slow, neat, no fuss.
“I thought it would look daft,” said a neighbour who tried it on a Victorian front door. “Now the hallway’s calm, the boiler cycles less, and the dog stays by the mat. I’m not changing it back.”
- Materials: 2 m foam pipe insulation (£2), old tights/socks, scissors or a sharp knife, optional tape for tidy ends.
- Good for: internal doors, flat entrances with a level threshold, and rooms where you feel a low, persistent chill.
- Avoid: fire doors, escape routes, or doors that need a perfect self-close. Also keep it clear of wet thresholds.
Small changes, big ripple
There’s something satisfying about a fix that you feel instantly. The room doesn’t just get warmer; it gets quieter, steadier, a touch kinder. That little foam bridge takes a rowdy gap and turns it into a shrug. You may find yourself noticing the absence of a thing you never properly clocked, like when a fridge finally stops humming at night. **Total cost: about £2 if you time it right.** And if a hallway can settle with one cheap tweak, what else at home might respond to a tiny nudge and a bit of care?
| Point clé | Détail | Intérêt pour le lecteur |
|---|---|---|
| Materials you need | 2 m foam pipe insulation (15–22 mm bore), old tights or socks, scissors/knife | Quick shopping list you can get on a lunch break |
| Why it works | Creates a compressible double seal that blocks airflow on both sides of the door | Fewer draughts without buying an expensive door sweep |
| Where to use it | Internal doors and non-critical entrances with level thresholds | Fast comfort boost in the rooms you actually sit in |
FAQ :
- Will this £2 draught-excluder fit every door?Most standard internal doors, yes. If your gap is very small or very large, adjust by trimming foam or pairing different diameters.
- Can I use a pool noodle instead of pipe insulation?Yes. Cut a pool noodle to width, slide it into tights, and run it under the door. Pool noodles are chunkier, so check door clearance.
- Is it safe for rental properties?It’s non-permanent and leaves no marks, so it’s renter-friendly. Don’t block fire doors or designated escape routes.
- How much could I save on heating?Stopping a leaky door won’t replace insulation, but it helps. Expect a noticeable comfort lift and small energy savings over a winter.
- What if my floor is uneven?Try a slightly larger foam size or wrap a thin strip of fleece around the flatter side to meet the floor. Aim for gentle contact, not pressure.
