20 Forgotten Window Tricks That Kept Winter Drafts Out Before Double Glazing, by Lost Home Hacks on YouTube. 27 min 52 s.
- Video length
- 27 min 52 s
- Time to do it
- 2 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Pick a windy day and run a damp hand or a lit incense stick slowly around the frame, sash joints and closing edges. Mark every spot where the flame or smoke wavers.
Clean the frame and glass with a damp cloth and let it dry fully. Dust and grease stop tape and seals from sticking, and damp timber holds them less well.
Press self-adhesive foam or rubber strip into the gap between the opening sash and the frame. Use 3 mm foam for gaps under 3 mm and 6 mm foam for wider ones.
Fit brush or wiper seals into the channels of sliding sash windows. Cut them slightly longer than the gap, then trim so the brush just touches the frame.
Fill hairline cracks where the frame meets the wall with flexible frame sealant. Smooth it with a wet finger and wipe off the excess before it skins over.
Cover larger gaps at the bottom of the window with a fabric draught excluder. A rolled towel or a fabric tube filled with rice works just as well.
Hang lined, floor-length curtains on a track fixed close to the ceiling. Let them overlap the wall by 10 cm at each side so cold air cannot slip behind.
Tape clear shrink film to the whole frame, then run a hairdryer over it until it tightens. Keep the dryer moving so the film does not melt.
Keep trickle vents open and never seal a room's only ventilation. Open a window for ten minutes each morning to clear condensation and stale air.
Tips and common mistakes
Test every window after fitting strips; if the handle will not close, swap to thinner foam.
Seal only the opening edges, never the drainage slots at the bottom of the frame, or rainwater will pool.
Check for damp patches on the frame before covering it up, since trapped moisture rots timber.
Peel off shrink film and tape in spring so the frames can dry out.
Questions
Will draught proofing make condensation worse?
It can if you block all airflow. Keep trickle vents open and air rooms briefly each morning, because the moisture comes from inside the home, not from the seals.
What is the cheapest fix for a single glazed window?
Shrink film taped over the frame stops the worst of the draught for very little money. A fabric draught excluder across the bottom gap helps too.
Can I do this in a rented flat?
Usually yes with removable options like foam strips, shrink film and heavy curtains, since nothing is fixed permanently. Ask your landlord before using sealant or drilling.
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.
