Weatherize Your Windows: Tips to Keep Your Home Warm This Winter

Winter is coming! Read on to explore how to stay warm and save money by weatherizing windows with caulk and foam tape. This prevents drafts that can lower your home’s temperature, forcing you to crank up the heat and driving your energy bills up. Here’s how you can get better heating performance — all with a quick afternoon project.

Weatherizing Windows Step-by-Step

Detect Air Leaks

Just because you can feel a draft doesn’t mean you can locate its source. That’s where this little test can come in handy. Here’s how you do it.

• Turn off the heat to eliminate air movement from the vents.
• Light a candle and take it around to each window.
• Hold the candle still. If the flame flickers, you have a draft near that window.

Apply Silicone Sealant

Once you’ve determined where the air leaks are coming from, it’s time to get down to weatherizing windows! And your first move will be to remove the existing caulk around the window panes and to replace it with new sealant.

This applies to any windows where you detected drafts, but you should also perform a visual inspection of the caulking around other windows as well. If it is dry and cracking, it should be replaced.

• Use a razor blade or utility knife to scrape out the existing sealant.
• Wipe off any dust or sealant remnants with a damp cloth.
• Dry off the surface and spread a fresh bead of silicone sealant at the point where the window pane and frame meets (do not apply caulk to the window’s moving parts).
• Smooth the silicone down with a cloth to form a complete seal.
• Don’t forget the glass on your doors either! They can use some love too!

Add Foam Tape

Next, you’ll need to address the other parts of your windows: specifically the sides that go up and down. You can accomplish that by placing adhesive foam tape around the outsides of each sash. Remove the paper backing and press it into place with your fingers.

Other Strategies to Winterize Windows

Sometimes you might need a little extra oomph for weatherizing your windows, especially if they’re older or if you don’t have storm windows. Luckily, there are a couple of techniques you can use for extra insulation.

• Window Film: This self-adhesive polyester film sits over your windows to form an insulating seal and block drafts. It’s easy to add, costs less than $15.00 and is available for purchase at your local home improvement store.
• Thermal Curtains: Thermal insulating curtains typically have two or three layers of thick fabric, combined with a layer of acrylic foam to prevent air infiltration and cold. Costs vary, but you can typically find them for less than $50.00.
• Insulated Glass: Install insulated glass to minimize heat transfer through window glasses. They use multiple glass panes in windows that are sealed together with air filled in between which reduces the amount of heat transfer and also increases the strength of windows.

A warm home and lower energy bills? Now that’s a cool deal! (But you know, not literally cool.)