Two rooms in house still cold, and draughts in sitting room

Skyrimaddict

Hi

I have a few questions. I live in a detached house, built 2005 , 1900 sq ft.

It's normal enough shape, but two bedrooms are at the side of the house and seem to be always cold. Got the insulation done in the attic and the beaded wall insulation bit still cold.

I also when having the attic insulation done has a ladder put there which has a seal around the ope, but I notice if I'm in my sitting room then there is a pull of a draft into the room, possibly due to the fireplace

Driving me nuts as the house always seems cold

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058321077/two-rooms-in-house-still-cold-and-draughts-in-sitting-room

Is the floor insulated? We are having an issue in 1 bedroom currently. I plan to have a thermal survey done to see where the issue is though.

Skyrimaddict

Not sure on the floor

It's a standard 2 storey so possibly.

Just frustrating. House isn't old, has had work done, yet always feels cold

10-10-20

Are you using the fireplace? Is it an open-fire type?

GreeBo

Do you have draughts around any sockets or floor boards?

Are the rooms carpeted?

Skyrimaddict

House has an open fire which is used.

All rooms are carpeted. No draught at socket but I do notice some st the window

James 007

You need to loose the open fireplace and install a stove. This will eliminate 'the draw' from your 'drafty' windows & will also provide heating to your radiators.

Then use an inscense stick & check the draughts on the windows, provide new seals to all window opes & recheck again with the sticks. A good way to check this is at night, turn off all room lights & use a torch or phone light & you will see the smoke travel inwards indicating a draught, you can also just check using your hand.

ongarite

Your open fireplace is literally sucking heat out of the house.

If you like a fire as heat source & visual appeal, consider getting a stove

10-10-20

Think of it this way @Skyrimaddict, if you wanted to ventilate a room through a chimney, you would light a fire to speed up the flow of air up that chimney. That's exactly what you're doing - ventilating the room when you light an open fire. The small amount of heat from the fire is only serving to warm the incoming cool air somewhat before it too gets sucked up the chimney. Open fire efficiency is somewhere around 25 to 30% for this reason.

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058321077/two-rooms-in-house-still-cold-and-draughts-in-sitting-room

What sort of heating do you have apart from the open fire? Assuming rads, how long/ often are they on.

But more importantly, what do you mean by 'cold'? For some people that's 15 degrees, for others anything less than 23 or 24 and they think it's cold. A lot of people prefer to having living areas reasonably warm but bedrooms cooler. Maybe the rads were sized that way?

celtic_oz

Think these have a 3:1 COP with 2.6 Kw of heat from 900 watts electric, it will heat without any air being introduced into the room, unlike an open fire or stove which will both draw cold air in through the windows

https://www.buyitdirect.ie/p/10000-btu-wall-mounted-air-conditioner-and-heat-pump-without-outdoor-unit-with-wifi-for-rooms-up-to-30-sqm-iqool-smart12hp

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121330967#Comment_121330967

But with the added problems of having two 12cm or 14cm holes in your wall! I'm undecided about that style of unit.

celtic_oz

Yes holes are big ... You could go for an external unit with head and the holes are regular pipe size

this would do 2 rooms that are side by side

Skyrimaddict

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121330900#Comment_121330900

Heating is gas, so rads, 16 of them. Cold I mean its mainly a draught, but despite work being done to the house around the windows, sealing them and the boards, wall insulation, attic being replaced with a sealable attic ladder. Still cold

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121367875#Comment_121367875

And temperature wise, how is that? Would you be going around in a t-shirt or wearing a jacket?

Skyrimaddict

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121370381#Comment_121370381

Not a jacket, but if you have a t-shirt on you do feel spots in the house which are cold alright, or else feel what I an only describe as a cold waft hitting you.

I have a stove bought so waiting on the install guy

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121371883#Comment_121371883

Have you compared what you're spending on gas for heating with other people with less well insulated houses? Sounds like drafts are a problem alright but say you're spending far less on heating than others in comparable size but older houses, that too may be the issue? Not putting enough heat in?

Clo-Clo

You could try this type of thing around the window to see if it is coming from the window the draft. They are pushing them a lot in the UK to reduce heating bills but it does mean you can't open the window. Could try for a few weeks and see if they warms the room up

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MAGZO-Indoor-Insulating-Windows-Transparent/dp/B0BLNDJW42/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=2D48S22HFJRG&keywords=window+insulation+kit&qid=1700339612&sprefix=window+%2Caps%2C116&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1