20 Old-School Storm Window Tricks That Helped Homes Hold Their Heat, by Lost Home Hacks on YouTube. 27 min 14 s.
- Video length
- 27 min 14 s
- Time to do it
- 2 to 3 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Pick a cold, windy day and run your hand slowly around each window frame, sash edges and sill. A lit incense stick works well because the smoke bends towards a leak.
Scrape off flaking paint and old cracked caulk from the frame and sill. Wipe the surface clean and let it dry fully so the new sealant sticks.
Fill the fixed gaps between frame and wall with a thin bead of exterior-grade caulk. Smooth it with a wet finger and leave it to cure.
Seal the parts that move, the sash channels and the meeting rail in the middle, with foam or V-strip weatherstripping. Cut each piece to length and press it firmly into place.
Close the gap under the lower sash with a fabric draft excluder, a folded strip or a fitted brush seal.
Fit shrink film to the inside of the frame with the double-sided tape supplied. Run a hairdryer on low over the film until it pulls tight and wrinkle free.
Hang heavy curtains or a close-fitting blind near the glass. Open them during daylight to let the sun in, then close them at dusk.
Check any outside storm windows. Clear the weep holes at the bottom, make sure the latches pull the panels snug and replace cracked glass or glazing putty.
Recheck every window for drafts and confirm that any window you use as a fire escape still opens easily.
Tips and common mistakes
Only caulk when the temperature is above about 5°C and the surface is dry, or the seal will fail.
Never block the weep holes on storm windows, as trapped water rots the frame.
Leave one window in each room able to open slightly for ventilation, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.
Use a ladder on firm, level ground and keep both feet below the top step when working outside.
Questions
What is the cheapest way to stop window drafts?
Foam weatherstripping and a shrink film kit cost very little and stop most of the cold air. Fix the moving parts first before spending on anything else.
Will sealing my windows cause condensation?
Sealing makes a room tighter, so moisture has fewer ways out. Wipe condensation each morning and keep a vent or trickle opening somewhere in the room.
Do I have to take the shrink film off in spring?
Yes. Remove it once the cold weather ends so the window can open and the frame can dry out.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
