Lift Out Loft Traps
Inspect the loft hatch, is it clean? Are there dark stains on it or on the door stops/lining?
Also look at the architrave, surround where it abuts the ceiling/wall. Are there cracks? These could very well be letting draughts in and should be caulked.
Now remove the hatch, often a wooden sheet, is it insulated? There is a better than average chance that it is not and it should be. Now thoroughly clean the top edges of the place where the edges of the hatch sits.
Note the blackening between the architrave and the ceiling, this indicates draughts are entering there, it should be caulked. The trap itself is dirty and there is a strong probability that it is not properly insulated and it is not sitting on its door stops again draughts are coming in there too, simple draught stripping will cure the problem but the top edge of the stops must be cleaned well first.
See next section below for comments on insulation.
Swing down loft traps.
Inspect the loft hatch, is it clean? Are there dark stains on it or on the door stops/lining? Also look at the architrave, surround where it abuts the ceiling/wall. Are there cracks? These could very well be letting draughts in and should be caulked.
Now open the hatch, often a wooden sheet, is it insulated? There is a better than average chance that it is not and it should be. Now thoroughly clean the faces of the place where the edges of the hatch close to. Apply suitable draught strips, foam, butyl-rubber or brush pile ones all work but take care to choose the correct thickness. On the hinge side the strip should be fitted so that it is compressed by the edge of the flap, i.e. it goes on the member that the hinges are fitted to.
The hatch should have door stops and many older drop down hatches have auto-latches or push to open catches, these ate now considered dangerous and quarter turn latches are recommended.
Eaves cupboard doors.
Where the eaves cupboard is inside the insulation and airtight zone there should not be ant need for either insulation or draughtproofing on the door, if there is then remedial actions should be taken to resolve issues in the afore mentioned barriers,
Where the eaves space is outside the insulation barrier then any door will need positive draught seals and will need to be insulated.
