Make Your Own Draft Stopper - Thermal
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Make Your Own Draft Stopper

According to EnergyStar, “a knowledgeable homeowner or skilled contractor can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs (or up to 10% on their total annual energy bill) by sealing and insulating.”  This refers to sealing up leaks in your home that let in cold, drafty air in the winter time.  Though sealing and insulating the home are definitely both recommended for improving your home’s energy efficiency, there is another more basic way to curb those winter drafts.  You can make your own draft stopper.

Homemade draft blockers can sit at the foot of your doors or windows in order to cover up the cracks.  Though they are not as effective as true home sealing, they still help, and they are a fun weekend project with the kids.  Here’s how you do it:

Materials:

  • Sturdy, tightly woven fabric (8” x 41-45”)
  • Scissors
  • Sewing machine and thread
  • Yard Stick
  • Filler- sand, rice, dry corn, aquarium gravel, kitty litter (You can mix in aromatic elements such as potpourri or evergreen tips)
  • Funnel

Instructions:

  • Measure the length of your door frame. Most will be around 41” or 45.”
  • Cut your fabric into a rectangle of the right width (8”) and length.
  • Fold the fabric in half lengthwise to form a 4” wide tube with the wrong sides of the fabric facing out.
  • Sew the length and one end together with a ½” seam allowance. Sew the length and one end again with a ¼” seam allowance. This keeps any filler from escaping.
  • Turn your tube inside out, using the yardstick to help push it out.
  • Using the funnel, fill the tube with the filler, leaving 1 inch at the top.
  • Turn in ½” of the top edge and sew closed. Repeat with another seam ¼” away from the first.
  •  (Taken from:  “How to Make a Door Draft Stopper” Favecrafts)

    This is a great way to spend time with your kids, while also teaching them about the importance of conserving energy.  Take the time to make your own draft stopper soon, before those chilly temperatures set in! For more information about actual sealing or insulation, please contact Thermal Services!

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