Draught proofing a cat flap (and checking for other draughts)

LydiaJ

Hi everyone

Any suggestions for draught proofing a cat flap? It's a thin transparent plastic flap. Do you think it would help to stick some thick insulating material onto the inside of it?

And is there a cheap and easy OS way of finding out where the heat is disappearing to? I'd like this winter's gas bills to be lower than last winter's, but if possible I'd like to do it by stopping the draughts rather than by having the house colder.

Thanks.

valk_scot

The flap goes outwards, yes? Then get some sticky backed velcro and a large square of felt and attach it over the entire cat flap on the inside. Prop the edge up with a straw or something...your cat will soon learn to poke his nose up from underneath to go out the catflap, and of course coming in again is no problem. My cats learned to do this in one day each, after a couple of prawns were offered!

To find draughts, light a candle and have a wee wander round each room, holding the candle high and low as you go round. The flame will bend and flicker in draughts. Classic places are up chimneys (stuff an old pillow in a binbag up it), round door frames (use stick on foam draught strip), under doors (draught excluder), windows (stick on foam and heavy lined curtains) and exposed floorboards. (Rugs.)