Reducing heat loss through the keyhole of an exterior door

[november romeo]

Apologies if this is a really basic question, but I'd really appreciate any advice.  We have a door with an old-fashioned keyhole, which is not covered, and so when it's windy outside we can feel a cold draft coming in through the keyhole.

Here is a photo of the door handle so you can see the keyhole:

 

I'd like to try and eliminate the draft to reduce heat loss from the room.  I've tried googling for solutions and found this keyhole escutcheon cover:

https://loopsdirect.com/collections/keyhole-covers/products/40mm-traditional-round-covered-escutcheon-lock-profile-black-antique

..but I don't think I can use that because it requires holes either side of the keyhole, which as you can see, I do not have. 

 

I'd really appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

[saveasteading]

Good idea. A lot of draught through that hole. If you can't drill for some reason, there will be a type you could glue on. I must do mine.

Failing which... velcro.

[TonyT]

Hot glue?

[Radian]

3 hours ago, saveasteading said:

Failing which... velcro

I'm going to pinch that idea!

 

For doors that aren't used much in the winter, an easy to remove cover sounds ideal. Cut an nice shape out of some black double-sided velcro with some black fabric on top. That's my plan now anyway.

 

But there is a 21^st century solution - replace with a digital door lock. Holes through our houses to the outside world are so primitive. We've had central locking routinely fitted on cars for over 30 years now yet houses, worth an order of magnitude more, still have locks with keys.

[SteamyTea]

3 hours ago, saveasteading said:

A lot of draught through that hole

Seem to remember that old @Jeremy Harris worked out the actual heat loss though a keyhole. Decided it was too small to worry about.

I hate the draught that comes though mine now I have fixed the leaky door.

[Roundtuit]

How about this:  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111957681280

[MDC]

Filled our key hole with wool and stuck thick tape across the hole on the outside. Presumably there is thermal bridging via the spindle, so you could take that out for the winter. And/or put a blank handle plate on the outside, so there is no hole at all. 

[november romeo]

Thanks for all the suggestions.  I think i'll try buying the keyhole escutcheon cover and drilling holes in our existing handle for it.  I'm keen to have a solution that looks good.

[TonyT]

Hot glue the escutcheon to the handle, no chance of damaging lock mechanism.

 

cut screws and glue head of screw into escutcheon to give impression it’s screwed.

[wozza]

Leave the key in the lock? 

[ProDave]

The only traditional "keyhole" lock we have is in the fire door between the house and the garage.  We rarely lock it.  Duct tape covers the keyhole on the garage side to stop the draught.

[ETC]

1 hour ago, ProDave said:

The only traditional "keyhole" lock we have is in the fire door between the house and the garage.  We rarely lock it.  Duct tape covers the keyhole on the garage side to stop the draught.

Seems a bit contradictory having a keyhole in a fire door.

[saveasteading]

Just now, ETC said:

contradictory having a keyhole in a fire door.

A fire resisting door does not necessarily have to be part of a  fire escspe route. This will be to keep the burning car from spreading to the house.

Or do you mean that the fire will pass through the keyhole? Not much chance of that going far....in fact it would be a good warning to ...RUNNN.

[ETC]

Just now, saveasteading said:

A fire resisting door does not necessarily have to be part of a  fire escspe route. This will be to keep the burning car from spreading to the house.

Or do you mean that the fire will pass through the keyhole? Not much chance of that going far....in fact it would be a good warning to ...RUNNN.

Lol……

[Iceverge]

How about a fridge Magnet. 

 

 

 

EDIT: @Roundtuitbeat me "tuit"

Edited November 2, 2022 by Iceverge

[Kelvin]

On 31/10/2022 at 17:14, Radian said:

I'm going to pinch that idea!

 

For doors that aren't used much in the winter, an easy to remove cover sounds ideal. Cut an nice shape out of some black double-sided velcro with some black fabric on top. That's my plan now anyway.

 

But there is a 21^st century solution - replace with a digital door lock. Holes through our houses to the outside world are so primitive. We've had central locking routinely fitted on cars for over 30 years now yet houses, worth an order of magnitude more, still have locks with keys.

Making it ever easier to steal cars. 

[MJNewton]

10 hours ago, saveasteading said:

A fire resisting door does not necessarily have to be part of a  fire escspe route. This will be to keep the burning car from spreading to the house.

Or do you mean that the fire will pass through the keyhole? Not much chance of that going far....in fact it would be a good warning to ...RUNNN.

 

Whilst shouting 'Fire in the hole!!!', presumably? 

[saveasteading]

9 hours ago, Iceverge said:

How about a fridge Magnet

My favourite. Any magnet, but there are umpteen on the fridge uselessly.

[Nickfromwales]

How about a key, which is physically compatible, can be fully inserted and left in the “hole”, which has a bit of felt / neoprene as a plug to stop the draft…………but is an uncut blank from a locksmith ( ergo it cannot be used by a burglar to unlock the door )?

[SteamyTea]

How about not heating the house, then you can consider the keyhole as controlled ventilation.

[Nickfromwales]

13 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

How about not heating the house, then you can consider the keyhole as controlled ventilation.

We did speak previously, about you not drinking before lunch? 

[SteamyTea]

29 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said:

We did speak previously, about you not drinking before lunch? 

It is always lunchtime somewhere.