I’ve also tried those plastic window insulation kits, the ones you shrink with a hairdryer. They look kind of janky but honestly, they work better than I expected.
I’ll second this—those shrink-wrap kits aren’t pretty but they do make a noticeable difference, especially on single-pane windows. I’ve found caulking any obvious gaps helps too, though it’s tedious and only gets you so far. Tried magnetic covers one winter; they sealed decently, but I struggled with condensation buildup between the layers. Not sure I’d call them a gimmick, but they’re not a silver bullet either. Curtains plus plastic seems to be the best balance for me—drafts down, bills slightly lower, still some daylight.
Curtains plus plastic seems to be the best balance for me—drafts down, bills slightly lower, still some daylight.
Funny, I landed on the same combo. The shrink-wrap stuff isn’t winning any beauty contests but it’s way better than nothing. Heavy curtains help a ton too—mine are old blackout ones and they make the room feel less drafty at night. Tried rope caulk once for the cracks, but it got messy real fast. Haven’t bothered with magnetic covers yet... sounds like more trouble than they’re worth if condensation’s an issue.
I get the appeal of curtains plus shrink-wrap, but I’ve actually had better luck with just a really thorough weatherstripping job and some decent caulk. The plastic film always ends up wrinkled or peeling at the edges for me, especially with old wood frames. Heavy curtains help, but if you’ve got radiators under the windows, they can trap heat behind the curtain instead of letting it into the room. Not perfect, but swapping out the weatherstripping every couple years has made the biggest difference for me—less hassle, and you don’t lose any daylight.
The plastic film always ends up wrinkled or peeling at the edges for me, especially with old wood frames.
Yeah, I’ve had the same issue with plastic film on my 1920s windows—never looks great and doesn’t last. Weatherstripping and caulk seem less finicky, but I do wonder if there’s a trick to making curtains work better with radiators. Maybe some kind of thermal panel that sits flush against the glass? Not sure if that would block too much light though...
I get what you’re saying about the film—never could get it to stick right on my old sash windows either. But I actually had better luck with those magnetic interior storm panels. They’re pricier up front and a pain to size, but I can pop them off in spring and they don’t mess with the wood. As for curtains with radiators, I’ve tried those thermal roller shades behind the curtains—keeps the heat in without blocking all the light, though it’s not perfect. Curious if anyone’s managed to make those DIY panels look halfway decent... mine always end up a little janky.
Funny you mention the DIY panels—mine looked decent for about a week, then the corners started peeling and the magnets didn’t line up right. I do think those magnetic ones are worth the hassle if you take your time measuring, but yeah, the upfront cost stings. I’ve tried caulking and rope putty too, but nothing’s really seamless on these old windows. The thermal shades help, but if you’ve got radiators, it’s always a balancing act... heat vs. light vs. not making the room feel like a cave.
That’s the tricky thing with old windows—no single fix seems to cover all the bases. I’ve seen magnetic panels work, but only when the frames are perfectly square, which is rare in older homes. Did you try using foam weatherstripping along with the panels? Sometimes that helps with corners that want to peel up. Curious if you’ve looked into interior storm windows, like the acrylic ones? They’re not cheap, but they do a better job of sealing and still let in light. The radiator issue’s tough—ever tried just covering the bottom half of the window with a shade so you don’t lose all your light?
Yeah, old windows are a real mixed bag—never quite square, always a surprise waiting behind the trim. I’ve run into the same thing with magnetic panels. If your frame’s even a little out of whack, you end up chasing drafts around every corner. Foam weatherstripping is a good call, but sometimes it’s like putting a Band-Aid on a leaky dam—works for a bit, then you’re back at square one when it peels or shifts.
Those acrylic interior storms do seal up better, but man, they’re not cheap. I’ve put them in for clients who wanted to keep the old wood look but still stop the wind tunnel effect. They’re solid, but you gotta measure carefully or you’ll be cursing every time you try to pop them in or out.
As for the radiator under the window—classic old house pain. I’ve seen folks run a cellular shade just halfway down in the winter. Keeps some heat in, doesn’t block all your light, and if you get the kind with side tracks, it actually helps with drafts a bit more than you’d think. Not perfect, but sometimes “better” is as good as it gets with these old beauties…
Interesting point about the cellular shades with side tracks—I’ve only ever tried the basic kind, and they didn’t do much for me. I’ve been debating whether it’s worth the hassle to try rope caulk along the sash edges. It’s cheap, easy to remove, and supposedly seals better than foam strips, but I’m not sure how well it holds up through a full winter. Has anyone had luck with that, or does it just end up messy after a few months?
- Tried rope caulk last winter on my 80s windows—held up better than I expected, honestly.
- It didn’t get sticky or gross, but it did start to look a bit sad by March.
- Way less hassle than foam strips, and easier to peel off when spring hit.
- Only downside: my cat tried to eat it...so maybe watch out if you’ve got curious pets.