Grandpa's $3 Window Fix: 4 Ways to Stop Cold Air From Coming Inside, by Hank's Home Fix on YouTube. 4 min 42 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 42 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
On a cold, windy day, light an incense stick and slowly move it along every window frame, door frame and the gap under each door. Watch where the smoke bends or blows sideways.
If you have no incense, wet the back of your hand and pass it close to the same edges. A cold spot on your skin marks a leak.
Cut the legs off an old pair of jeans and sew or tie one end shut. Fill the leg with uncooked rice and close the other end.
Lay the rice-filled tube across the bottom of a drafty door. If you have no jeans, roll a bath towel tightly and push it into the gap.
Cut bubble wrap to the size of each window pane, with the bubbles facing the glass.
Mist the glass with plain water from a spray bottle and press the bubble wrap flat against it. Smooth it down so it sticks.
Find the direction switch on your ceiling fan, usually a small slider on the motor housing. Set it so the fan turns clockwise.
Run the fan on its lowest speed. This pushes the warm air sitting at the ceiling back down the walls.
Tips and common mistakes
Do not rely on a space heater to fix a cold room. Seal the drafts first, since heaters cause many home heating fires.
Use a step stool and keep both feet steady when you reach the ceiling fan switch, and turn the fan off before you touch it.
Peel the bubble wrap off in spring and wipe the glass. Plain water leaves no sticky residue.
Check the draft stopper after a few weeks. Rice settles, so top it up or tie the end tighter.
Questions
Does bubble wrap really keep heat in?
Yes, a little. The trapped air bubbles act as a thin layer of insulation on the glass. It works best on single-pane windows and costs almost nothing.
Which way should a ceiling fan turn in winter?
Clockwise on low speed. That pulls cool air up the middle and pushes the warm air at the ceiling down the walls toward you.
Can I use this in a rented flat?
Yes. Bubble wrap and water peel off, and the draft stopper just lifts away. Nothing is screwed or glued to the window or door.
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.
