The $5 Winter Trick That Stops Cold Air From Sneaking Into Your Home, by Secret Vault on YouTube. 9 min 20 s.
- Video length
- 9 min 20 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
On a cold, windy day, close all windows and doors, then run your hand slowly around frames, sills, letterboxes and the gap under each door to feel where cold air comes in.
Light an incense stick or a candle and hold it near each suspect gap. A flickering flame or drifting smoke shows a leak you missed by hand. Keep the flame away from curtains and never leave it burning.
Measure the gap under each exterior door and buy a foam or fabric draft stopper that fills it. A rolled towel pushed tight against the bottom is a free stopgap.
Clean and dry the frame, then press self-adhesive foam or rubber weatherstripping into the gap between the window sash and the frame. Check the window still closes and latches.
Test the seal with a strip of paper: shut the window on it and pull gently. If the paper slides out easily, the gap is still there, so fit a thicker strip.
For a draughty single-glazed window, fit a window insulation film kit. Tape the film to a dry, clean frame, then shrink it tight with a hairdryer on a low setting.
Hang heavy, floor-length curtains and close them at dusk. Tuck them behind the radiator or onto the sill so warm air stays in the room instead of escaping through the glass.
Keep air bricks, trickle vents and combustion-air openings clear. Never stuff towels or foam into them, and never use an oven or grill to heat a room.
Tips and common mistakes
Seal only the gaps you found, not the whole window, so you can still open it for fresh air.
Press weatherstripping down firmly along its full length, or it will peel off the first time the window is opened.
These fixes reduce drafts but do not replace proper insulation or a heating-system repair.
Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms before you start sealing a room up for winter.
Questions
Will a draft stopper alone warm my house?
It helps most with cold floors and draughts around your feet, but heat still escapes through glass and other gaps. Pair it with weatherstripping and heavy curtains for a real difference.
Can I use a rolled towel instead of buying a draft excluder?
Yes. A tightly rolled towel pushed against the door bottom works as a temporary fix, though you will need to move it each time you use the door.
Do I need to remove window film in spring?
Yes. Shrink film is meant for one season. Peel it off when the weather warms up so you can open the window normally again.
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.
