How To Seal Old Drafty Windows

Download Article

A drafty window lets in outside air, which can arrive feel common cold near the window. The loss of heat and the cold air getting in through a draft tin also wreak havoc on your heating bills! You lot can use a quick set up if you need to fix a drafty window in a bustle, cover the window with plastic to seal out the draft, or try a more permanent fix such as caulking the window. Fixing a drafty window is an easy projection no thing what selection yous choose.

1
Insulate the window with a strip of rope caulk. Rope caulk is a flexible putty-like caulk that you can printing and mold into the edges of a window to seal drafts. Purchase rope caulk at a hardware shop and printing it into the edges of the window to seal it.^[one]
- You tin can also attempt using V-seal weather condition stripping to seal the edges of the window. This is a special type of weather condition stripping that you can press into the edges of the window to seal up a typhoon.
two
Fill in a fissure in a window with clear nail shine. If a crack in the window is causing the draft, then you volition need to replace the window to fix the typhoon. However, a temporary way to ready the draft is to paint over the crevice with clear smash polish. Permit the smash shine to dry completely and add together another coat if needed.^[2]
- You may need to paint on 2 to iii coats to ensure that the crevice is fully covered.
- Keep in mind that you lot will still need to supercede the window eventually. The nail smoothen will only hold for i to 2 months at most.
Advertisement
three
Place a weighted sock along the lesser edge of the window. You can buy or make a weighted sock for blocking gaps in doors and windows. Place the sock forth the bottom border of the window or where the acme and bottom pane meet to seal in more air and forbid drafts.^[three]
- Check online or in a department store to purchase a window or door sock.
- Although a window sock won't actually prepare a drafty window permanently, this is the quickest and easiest mode to cease a typhoon.
Tip: If you want to make your ain window sock, become an old genu-length sock and make full it with rice or sand. Then, tie or sew the opening closed to go on the contents within of the sock, and it's ready to employ!
4
Put up thick curtains to comprehend the drafty window. Heavy curtains or specially fabricated insulating defunction will as well assistance to quickly reduce the furnishings of a draft. The curtains will not ready the problem, but this is a proficient pick if you need to stop the draft in a hurry.^[four]
- Lite and noise blocking curtains are usually thick enough to provide some typhoon protection.
- Yous can likewise layer 2 defunction over the window or use cloth blinds, such as roman blinds.
5
Buy and install interior storm windows. If yous already have a tempest window, then cover your interior windows with it to continue out drafts. If not, measure your window and buy a storm window to fit it. Then, place the storm window over your regular window to easily seal out the typhoon.^[5]
- Storm windows can be an expensive ready for drafty windows, but you can utilise them again and again.
Advertisement

ane
Buy a plastic shrink wrap window kit. You can purchase a window insulation kit from a hardware shop. These kits have everything yous need to comprehend a drafty window. You can purchase kits with extra materials for covering multiple windows.^{[half dozen]}
- The kit should include double-sided tape and plastic for covering your windows. You tin can buy these items separately if yous adopt.
2
Apply ane strip of double-sided tape forth the edges of the window. Beginning by pressing the end of the record into the edge of the window just outside of the glass. Dispense the tape and continue pressing it until y'all accept covered i side of the window. And so, cut the record when you get to the end of the edge.^[7]
- Echo to cover the other side and the acme and bottom edges of the window.
- Make certain that the surface is clean.^[8]
- It will aid the adhesive to stick properly.^[nine]
three
Remove the roofing on the double-sided tape after ten to 15 minutes. Letting the record sit for 10 to xv minutes volition allow it to get tacky and improve its bond with the window. After time is up, pare off the comprehend on the record strips surrounding the window.^[x]
- Discard the covering you remove from the tape strips.
iv
Press the plastic wrap onto the double-sided tape. Take 1 of the plastic pieces included with your kit and line up the corner with the corner of the window where you practical the tape. Then, printing the plastic onto the double-sided record. Slide your hands down the border of the window over the plastic to secure information technology to the tape.^[11]
- Repeat this for the summit edge of the plastic. So, pull the plastic taut and secure the other side and bottom edge of the plastic by pressing downwards on it.
Tip: For an actress layer of insulation, employ a layer over bubble wrap over the window first, and and so use the plastic over that. This will create a frosted drinking glass effect and prevent you from being able to encounter through the windows, but it will provide more insulation and potentially save you even more on heating bills.
5
Use a hair dryer to tighten the plastic. Once the plastic is secured on the window with the double-sided tape, plug in a hair dryer and plough it on. Hover the dryer's nozzle over the plastic anywhere that it looks loose. This volition assistance to shrink the plastic and create a tight fit with the window.^[12]
- Brand sure to keep moving the hair dryer around over the plastic. Avoid holding in i spot for more than than 5 seconds every bit this may make a hole in the plastic.
6

Trim the excess plastic to the size of your windows. After y'all accept tightened up the plastic with the hair dryer, employ a pair of pair of scissors to cutting off the excess plastic forth the edges of the window. Exist careful non to cut within of where you lot applied the double-sided tape or you may pause the seal.^[13]

Advertising

1
Hold a candle up to the window to find the source of the typhoon. Light a candle and hold information technology up next to the window. Move information technology around the edges of the window and watch the candle to meet if it flickers. If you detect the candle moving like it is being blown in the wind, then this is probably a drafty part of the window. Mark it with a piece of chalk or tape.^[14]
- If y'all are not sure where the air is coming in from and you only want to seal up the drafty portion of a window, cheque to find the draft outset.
Alarm: Be cautious with the flame around curtains or blinds. Yous may desire to remove them before yous do this to prevent the possibility of starting a fire.
two
Remove the old caulk and peeling paint from the window'south edges. Employ a paint scraper to take all of the old caulk off of the edges of the window. Printing the scraper against the edge of the window, and then move it upwards to loosen the caulk.^[15]
- If in that location is whatsoever peeling paint, flake this off as well since it will interfere with re-caulking the window.
3
Wash the edges of the window with a scrub brush and soapy water. Fill a small bucket with soapy h2o and dip a scrub brush into it. Then utilize the scrub brush to wash along the edges of the window. Supplant the soapy water with evidently water and use the brush to rinse the lather away. Then, pat the window dry out with a clean dry out towel or newspaper towels.^[16]
- Washing the window'south edges start will aid to ensure that you lot go a tight seal with the new layer of caulk.
4
Seal the edges with a new layer of caulk. Depress the plunger on the caulk tube to push it out every bit you run the tip of the caulk gun down the border of the window. Continue to do this until you have completely covered one edge of the window. So, repeat for the other iii sides of the window. Let the caulk to dry overnight, or for at least eight hours to ensure that information technology is set.^[17]
- Make sure to follow the manufacturer'south instructions for how to utilize the caulk properly.
Advertisement

Add New Question

Question

What kind of windows will preclude common cold drafts?

Kevin Turner is a handyman and the possessor of Red Gator Maintenance, a handyman business based in Fresno, California. Working on handyman-related projects since the age of 12, Kevin specializes in a wide variety of home comeback projects such as (only not limited to) lighting/electrical, plumbing, deck staining, drywall repairs, cabinet installation, air conditioning, trash removal, and window, roof, and appliance repairs.

Commercial Handyman

Expert Respond

Dual-pane windows are going to be your best bet. They're more energy-efficient, and they have a gap inside the 2 panes that acts equally a barrier confronting cold air.

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

You might demand to supersede the window if information technology is beyond repair, such as if at that place is a crevice in the glass or if the window pane is loose.^[eighteen]