A ‘Candle Test’ Could Help You Save On Your Heating Bill

Gas and electricity prices have remained high, which can be especially tough in winter.

Which is why draughts are best avoided if at all possible. Little cracks in your windows, walls, and pipes can create unwanted airflows, potentially raising your bills.

In fact, according to Winston Osborn, a technical director at Atlas Aluminium, said that un-draughtproofed homes can lose over 30% of their heat.

“It is not just about the draught you can feel, it is the constant, silent transfer where heat literally migrates through poor quality frames and unoptimised glass,” he said.

Luckily, he added, a “candle test” can help you spot these.

“According to FENSA, inefficient windows can be responsible for losing up to 10% of a home’s total energy, making it important to keep on top of any draught gaps,” the expert said.

“One of the simplest ways to find a leak is with a lit candle.”

Wait for a windy day, Osborn advised, then run a lit candle slowly around the edges of your door or window frames.

“If the flame flickers or dances, you’ve found a gap that is letting cold air in and heat escape,” he explained.

Seeing as you can get a pack of 100 tealights for under £4, that’s a pretty great return on your investment.

If you notice a draught after conducting a “candle test,” there are things you can do at home to reduce it, said Osborn.

“If you find a leak like this, use a high-quality silicone sealant or a backer rod foam strip to bridge the gap between the frame and the brickwork,” he said.

“Sealing these perimeter gaps can reduce air leakage by as much as 50%, and it prevents the wind tunnel effect that forces your boiler to work twice as hard to maintain a steady temperature.”