This $3 Japanese Fix Stops the Window Draft Bubble Wrap Can't, by George Nakamura Prepping on YouTube. 13 min 10 s.
- Video length
- 13 min 10 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Test before you buy. On a windy day, hold a strip of tissue near the bottom, sides, top and middle seam of the closed window. Note where it flutters most. Never use a candle or incense near curtains.
Clean the frame, trim and track with a damp cloth and let them dry. Dust or moisture stops the adhesive from holding, and the tape will peel off within days.
Match the strip to the gap. Use foam for uneven gaps, rubber or silicone for narrow even gaps, brush strip where a sash slides, and V strip for the gap between the two sashes.
Cut each strip a little longer than the gap and press it firmly into place along the frame. Work in short sections so the strip stays straight and the window still closes.
Seal the bottom gap the right way. Many people stuff foam in and jam the sash, so use a brush or V strip there instead and check the window still slides, closes and locks.
Run foam along the top gap, where cold air drops in, and apply a thin bead of caulk to any cracks in the trim around the frame.
Deal with a window air conditioner. Cold air leaks around the unit all winter, so seal the gaps with foam or insulation, or take the unit out and shut the window.
Check the weep holes in the bottom track of a sliding window. They must stay open so rainwater drains outside instead of backing up into your wall.
Test again with the tissue, then open and close the window a few times. Make sure one window in every bedroom still opens fast in a fire.
Each night, close the window and turn the latch. Locking pulls the sashes together, takes two seconds, and most people skip it.
Tips and common mistakes
Use tissue for the draft test, never a flame, because curtains and blinds catch light easily.
Do not seal every window in a bedroom shut. Keep one you can open fast in an emergency.
Have someone hold the ladder or step stool, and never lift a window air conditioner alone.
Buy a little extra tape, since you will spot more gaps once you start looking.
Questions
How do I know which gap tape to buy?
Go by where the tissue fluttered. Foam suits uneven gaps, rubber suits narrow even ones, brush strip suits sliding sashes and V strip suits the meeting seam between sashes.
Will weatherstripping stop condensation on the glass?
No. The tape stops air moving around the frame, but cold glass still condenses. Keep a little ventilation and wipe the sill dry.
Can I just use bubble wrap instead?
Bubble wrap or film warms the glass but does nothing for air slipping around the frame. Seal the gaps first, then add film if you want.
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.
