As of 13 August 2026, AI can draught-proof a window.
Most people should do this themselves; the prompt is on this page.
Can you do it?
5 minutesto a draft.
30 minutesto something you’d act on.
Cost, all in£0
Skill neededchat-fluent
Who has to check ityou
What the alternative costsNo priced human or specialist alternative is listed in the supplied tools data.
If this goes wrong, you may fit the wrong strip or leave a draught, but you can normally remove it and try again without altering the window.
What to actually do
Do it yourself
The route this page recommends
A chat interface, chat-fluent skill, and roughly 30 minutes until you can act on the result.
How to actually do it
- Open a free AI chat and take clear photographs of the window from inside and outside, including the frame, hinges or sash edges, locks, trickle vents and any visible gaps.
- Record the window type and frame material, then measure the relevant frame edges and write down exactly where you feel the draught.
- Paste the prompt and add the photographs, measurements, signs of condensation, and any details about damaged seals, sticking, rattling or difficulty opening the window.
- Use the response to choose a product type, then read the product instructions and compare them with the AI plan before buying or fitting anything.
- Clean and dry the recommended contact surfaces, fit the strip or seal without covering vents, drainage holes, locks, hinges or an emergency escape route, and keep the window operational.
- Close the window, check the original draught points with your hand or a safely controlled smoke source, and remove the material and seek a glazier or joiner if the window binds, will not lock, has damaged glass or still leaks air.
Prompt
Help me draught-proof this window without damaging it. I am in the UK. Window type: [casement, sash, uPVC, timber or other]. Frame material: [material]. Approximate measurements: [measurements]. The draught seems to enter at: [location]. Uploads or photographs available: [describe them]. Tell me how to distinguish a draught from condensation, a gap caused by a damaged seal, and a problem with the frame. Recommend suitable types of draught-proofing product available in the UK, but do not invent product specifications or prices. Give a step-by-step fitting plan, including the surface preparation, where the strip or seal should go, how much clearance to leave, and how to test the window afterwards. Tell me what not to cover, including trickle vents, drainage holes, locks, hinges and any emergency escape function. If the photographs or description are not enough to identify the problem safely, ask focused questions instead of guessing. Tell me when I should stop and contact a glazier, joiner or other qualified tradesperson.
Open it prefilled in ChatGPT or Claude, or copy it into Gemini, which takes no prefill link.
Use a tool built for this
Second choiceHand it to a person
The distant thirdA person who owns the outcome does this end to end, worth it when the failure is dear.
What it gets wrong
- AI cannot feel the draught, inspect the seal closely or tell whether movement comes from a warped frame.
- AI cannot reliably distinguish a failed sealed unit, rotten timber or a hidden drainage problem from a simple gap in a photograph.
- AI cannot handle ladders, awkward access or the physical fitting of the strip.
- AI cannot guarantee that a seal will not stop the window opening, locking or serving as an emergency escape route.
- AI cannot take responsibility for damage caused by forcing, drilling or sealing the wrong part of the window.
Even on a YES, the friction has a name: physical presence, judgement under ambiguity and context depth.
How we scored this
Five axes, each scored nought to two by hand: ten means AI carries the task cleanly, and the thresholds that turn a total into YES, PARTLY or NO are published in the methodology. Each axis name links to its definition.
| Axis | Score (0–2) |
|---|---|
| Output | 2 |
| Inputs | 2 |
| Verification | 2 |
| Liability | 2 |
| Effort delta | 2 |
| Total | 10 / 10 |
The methodology and its thresholds are published in full.
FAQ
- Can AI tell me where the draught is coming from?
- It can help you narrow this down if you provide photographs, the window type and a description of where you feel the air. It cannot physically feel the draught or reliably identify concealed frame, seal or drainage faults.
- What is the best way to draught-proof a window?
- The right method depends on whether the window is sash, casement, uPVC or timber, and whether the gap is around the opening section or the fixed frame. AI can suggest a product type and fitting sequence, but compare that advice with the product instructions and do not cover vents, drainage holes or safety hardware.
- Can I draught-proof a window without replacing it?
- Often, a suitable removable strip or replacement seal can reduce draughts without replacing the window. Do not use a seal to hide a rotten frame, damaged glass, a failed sealed unit or a window that cannot open and lock correctly.
- When should I call a professional to draught-proof a window?
- Contact a glazier or joiner if the glass is damaged, the timber is rotten, the frame is badly warped, the window will not lock, or fitting a seal could affect an emergency escape route. Also get help when the draught appears to come through the frame or wall rather than a simple opening gap.
Nearby answers
Assessed by gpt-5.6-luna (gpt-5.6-luna) on 2026-08-13, second-checked by an independent model. Wrong somewhere? Email [email protected] and it gets re-checked.
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