Tackling Downlighter Draughts: A Simple Solution

Tony recently found himself frustrated with downlighters when asked to help change a lightbulb at a friend’s house while collecting some tools for the library of things. As he removed the old bulb he was shocked at the draft that was coming out from the ceiling. It was almost like having a window open and it was just one of 16 downlights in that room.

It’s not difficult to draftproof downlighters if you do it before they are installed because it is possible to provide a box or enclosure to house them in. Sadly there is little or no possibility of doing that once they have been installed. In the past, with incandescent bulbs, downlights required careful handling due to the heat they generated. However, the advent of LED luminaries has made it easier to fit boxing over them without risking overheating.

Link https://readinguk.org/draughtbusters/tackling-downlighter-draughts-a-simple-solution/

Posted By: Peter_in_HungaryOf course it ignores the build quality as to why there should be a gale coming from the downlighters anyway - and with that how much heat is being lost without knowledge if it were not for the downlighters.

In a bungalow it's because they are fitted in a well-ventilated loft. In a house it's a good illustration of the need to keep airtightness continuous between floors - i.e joists poked into holes in the exterior wall don't cut it any longer!

I think I'd prefer to see an airtight box fitted over the top of the downlight. Easy enough in a bungalow but a bit more faff downstairs in a house.

Fire rated downlights don't have that issue of course - being sealed at the rear.

https://www.downlightsdirect.co.uk/fire-rated-downlights.html

I could accept that the fitting itself is draughtproof but can see draughts coming in between the plasterboard and the bezel. I see that a lot already, it is not such a bad draught but none the lees it is a draught.

That is good but do those make them draughtproof?