How to Seal Windows
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How to Seal Windows and Reduce Energy Bills

ByStan S.

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Poorly sealed windows allow heat to enter your home during the summer and cool drafts during the winter. As a result, your HVAC unit works overtime to maintain your desired temperature, leading to high energy bills. Here, we explain how to seal windows with various materials and methods including caulk, weather stripping, plastic shrink-wrap, and draft stoppers.

While replacing your windows with new energy-efficient ones is the most effective way to stop the draft and lower your utility bill, it’s not always an option. Luckily, there are several ways to seal your existing windows to help prevent air transfer between the interior and exterior.

Caulk Around the Windows

Caulking around windows is sometimes all it takes to reduce their draftiness. It’s also one of the most cost-effective ways to seal a window, as caulk is relatively inexpensive.

Caulk is ideal for filling small cracks around various window components. It can create a watertight and airtight seal that remains flexible for years after application. This flexibility ensures the caulk’s seal won’t crack due to natural expansion and contraction.

If your window has gaps larger than 1/2 inch, caulk may not work well. If these gaps are deep, expanding foam insulation designed for window and door use may be necessary to fill the cavity. Once the foam is fully expanded, you can trim it flush using a sharp knife and cover it using a wood trim piece or a bead of caulk, whichever is more appropriate for your window.

Install Weather Stripping

Weather stripping is useful for sealing around the moving components of a window, such as beneath a moving sash. Whereas caulk will seal the joint, weather stripping allows you to open and close the window, sealing the gap tightly once the window is closed.

Most foam weather stripping has one sticky side so it can be adhered to the fixed portion of the window without sticking to the moving one. To promote a strong bond between the foam weather stripping and the window sash, remove dust or debris, thoroughly clean the window with a degreaser, and dry the surface.

Seal with Plastic Shrink-Wrap

To create a temporary airtight seal around your window, look for plastic shrink-wrap window insulating kits, which include double-stick tape and sheets of plastic shrink-wrap.

To seal a window using plastic shrink-wrap, follow these steps:

  1. Clean the window.
  2. Apply strips of double-stick tape on all four sides of the window frame.
  3. Cut the plastic sheeting slightly larger than the window pane. Place it on the pane, pressing it against the double-stick tape to secure it.
  4. Use a hairdryer or a heat gun on low to shrink the plastic, starting on the perimeter and moving across the shrink-wrap until it’s perfectly taut.
  5. Clean up the excess plastic using a utility knife.

If you’re planning to shrink-wrap all of your windows, leave at least one window in each room uncovered for a potential fire escape.

Insert Draft Stoppers

Store-bought draft stoppers can be great for stopping drafts with minimal effort and without altering the window. There are various styles of draft stoppers tailored for different types of windows and doors.

Many draft stoppers include two tubes that can be cut to the window’s width and then slid inside a piece of fabric. The fabric is then slid beneath the window sash. Once the window is closed, the two tubes are tightly held on each side of the window. While this style of draft stopper can be effective for windows, they are often used on doors.

A more effective style of a window draft stopper is designed to stick along the bottom edge of the window sash. Once the sash is closed, the overhanging rubber material compresses against the window frame to prevent airflow.

The most effortless style of draft stopper that can be used to reduce a window draft looks like a long pillow. You simply lay it at the bottom of the window to block the draft.

How to Identify a Drafty Window

If the source of your window draft isn’t obvious (such as a visible crack), it can be hard to pinpoint where the issue lies. Here are some useful ways to identify a window draft.

  • Turn off any fans and other air movers. You may have difficulty identifying your draft because air is moving from sources like fans, dehumidifiers, HVAC systems, and more.
  • Light a candle and place it next to the window. Blow the candle out and watch the smoke. The candle smoke will blow if it’s positioned near the draft. This method may take a few tries and it can be helpful to trace the window’s border with the candle.
  • Some lightweight curtains will move when blown by a window draft.
  • Drafty windows are prone to condensation buildup. If you have just one window with condensation on it, there’s a good chance it’s the source of the draft.
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    Canadian Dental Care Plan applications are now open for people under 35

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    10 Signs You Need to Replace Your Windows ASAP

    ByStan S.

    On average, windows will last between 15 to 30 years, though the exact life span depends on several factors, including the type of glass, the quality and material of the frame, the local weather, and whether the window is installed properly or not. Regardless of these factors, windows and window frames can break or begin to show signs of wear, indicating that you need to repair the windows or invest in an upgrade. However, before paying for costly repairs, read on to learn 10 signs you need to replace your windows instead. 1. Visible Damage One of the most obvious signs that you should consider replacing the windows is if there is visible damage. While you can pay for the windows to be repaired, it’s important to consider their current age. Newer windows might be worth the cost of the repair, but it’s typically more cost-effective to replace older windows that are visibly damaged. 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    Toothpaste Is the Secret to Perfectly-Hung Picture Frames (Yes, Really!)

    ByStan S.

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    7 factors to carefully consider for the Granville Strip’s revitalization

    Bymichael

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    Dont Skip This Moving Day Step. What to Clean Before Handing Over the Keys

    ByStan S.

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Most contracts for home sales include boilerplate language regarding the buyer’s obligation to clean and remove all belongings from the home before the sale. Renters often have requirements in their leases relating to cleaning before they move out. “Although it may not be contractual, it is more of a courtesy to the buyer,” says Kam Zinsser, a real estate agent with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Senter Realtors.  “When purchasing a home, most contracts stipulate that the premises be broom-swept,” says broker Svetlana Choi of Coldwell Banker Warburg. “So, it isn’t necessary for a seller to do a thorough cleaning. However, it can make a real difference, particularly if it’s a higher-priced property.” “I had a client who was buying a studio in the Gramercy area of NYC and specifically requested that the mildew, which was severe, be cleaned from the bathroom,” says broker Gerard Splendore of Coldwell Banker Warburg. “At the walk-through, the day prior to closing, the mildew was untouched. The seller insisted that it had been cleaned that night, but no evidence or pictures were presented. 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In the end, she was happy and then focused on renovating her home.” “A cleaner home helps with a smoother walk-through and sets a positive tone for the closing process,” —Kay Zinsser, Real Estate Agent As Zinsser stated, cleaning your home is typically a courtesy to the new buyer unless otherwise stipulated in your contract. “General cleaning of the floors and surfaces as well as removing all personal belongings is very important,” Zinsser says. “Deep cleaning the kitchen appliances, inside the cabinets, bathrooms, and carpet is always nice.”  In some cases, the buyer will require the seller to pay for a deep clean before move-in. 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Overlooked—or perhaps simply insufficiently cleaned—are bathrooms, which are places most people hate to clean.” While you don’t have to clean, it is a nice gesture and one you would appreciate if the roles were reversed. “One of my sellers said to me, ‘They sought to present the home as they would wish to receive it,’” Zinsser said. “This has always stuck with me!” What You Should Clean When Leaving an Apartment  When it comes to cleaning an apartment or home rental, the rules are typically much more rigid and spelled out in the leasing documents. They often state that you must leave the space empty and broom-cleaned or swept. “For homeowners, cleaning is rarely a

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