“Honestly, tape and foam only get you so far if your window frames are seriously warped.”
Totally get this. I had a 70s rental with those rickety metal sliders—no matter how much foam tape I crammed in, there was always a draft. The shrink-wrap kits did help, but I found they’d sometimes peel off when it got really cold. Did you ever try using rope caulk? It’s a bit messy, but I had some luck with it in the worst gaps. Not pretty, but neither is freezing in your living room...
I’m not totally convinced that tape and foam are a lost cause, even with warped frames. My house was built in the late 80s, and the windows aren’t exactly square anymore. I tried both the foam tape and the shrink-wrap kits last winter, and honestly, it was a mixed bag. The foam tape didn’t seal everything, but it did cut down on the worst of the drafts. I had to double up in some spots, and yeah, it looked a bit rough, but it was better than nothing.
I actually didn’t have much luck with rope caulk, though. Maybe I just did it wrong, but it stuck to my fingers more than the window, and when it got cold, parts of it hardened and cracked? Could be user error—I’m new at this stuff. At least with the tape, it was easy to pull off in the spring without gunk everywhere.
The shrink-wrap kits were a lifesaver for the big living room window. They stayed put, but I did notice the adhesive started to let go when it got really cold, like you said. I pressed it back down and it mostly held, but maybe there’s a trick I’m missing.
What I keep wondering is if it’s worth spending more on those “premium” sealing tapes I see online, or if it’s all just marketing. The cheap stuff from the hardware store seemed about as good as anything. I’m also debating if it’s just smarter to save up for new windows, but that’s a whole other headache.
Anyway, I wouldn’t say tape and foam are useless even with bad frames. Not perfect, but for a first-timer, it’s less intimidating than messing with caulk or anything permanent. Maybe not pretty, but neither are my heating bills...
Totally get what you mean about the foam tape looking a little rough—my windows looked like they’d been bandaged up for winter. Still, it kept the worst of the drafts out, and honestly, I’ll take ugly over freezing. Tried the “premium” tape once and didn’t notice much difference except my wallet felt lighter. Shrink-wrap kits are my go-to for big windows too, though I’ve had to re-stick the corners when it gets really cold. New windows would be lovely, but until I win the lottery, I’m sticking with tape and crossed fingers.
Honestly, I’ve seen a lot of folks slap foam tape on and call it a day, but yeah, it’s not exactly pretty. Does the job in a pinch, though. The “premium” stuff is mostly just pricier packaging if you ask me. Shrink-wrap kits can work, but they’re a pain when the adhesive gives up mid-winter—been there, cursed that. Until you hit that lottery, I’d say keep patching things up, but maybe check the window frames too… sometimes the draft sneaks in from spots you wouldn’t expect.
Yeah, foam tape is kinda the duct tape of window drafts—works for a while, doesn’t win any beauty contests. I’ve had better luck mixing things up: tape for quick fixes, but then I’ll run a bead of clear silicone caulk around the frame if I spot gaps. Sometimes it’s not even the glass, it’s those sneaky joints in the trim. One winter, I thought my windows were leaking cold air, but it turned out to be a tiny gap in the molding. Worth grabbing a flashlight and checking at night—shine it from outside and see where the light peeks through. Not fancy, but it saved me a headache.
I swear, the first winter in my “new” (read: 1950s, drafty as heck) place, I spent more time chasing cold air than actually living in my living room. Foam tape was my first attempt—looked like I’d tried to gift-wrap my windows. It did help, but only until the cat figured out she could peel it off and eat it. Not ideal.
I’m with you on the trim being the real culprit. I spent ages blaming the glass, but then one night I was watching TV and felt this icy breeze on my ankle. Turns out, there was a gap in the baseboard right under the window. I never would’ve spotted it without crawling around with a flashlight like some kind of home inspector ninja. Silicone caulk worked way better than tape for that, but I’ll admit, I got some on the wall and now there’s a weird shiny patch. Live and learn.
Honestly, I still keep a roll of foam tape around for emergencies or when I just can’t deal with a “real” fix right away. It’s ugly, but it’s cheap and you can slap it on in five minutes. But if you want to actually stop drafts for more than a month or two, caulk is the way to go. Just be prepared for your windows to look a little “DIY chic” if you’re not careful.
And yeah, that flashlight trick is gold. I did it with my phone flashlight and my neighbor probably thinks I’m nuts, but hey, my heating bill went down. Worth it.
That “home inspector ninja” visual is spot-on—I’ve definitely been there, flashlight in hand, chasing down those sneaky drafts. You nailed it with this:
Turns out, there was a gap in the baseboard right under the window. I never would’ve spotted it without crawling around with a flashlight like some kind of home inspector ninja.
It’s wild how often the trim or baseboards are the real issue, not the glass itself. I’ve had similar surprises in my own place (built in the ‘40s), and honestly, silicone caulk has been a game-changer for me too. The only downside is exactly what you mentioned—if you’re not careful, that shiny patch can haunt you every time the light hits it just right.
Foam tape is great for quick fixes or if you’re in a rush before a cold snap, but yeah, it’s not a long-term solution. I still keep some around for “panic mode” days when I feel a draft and don’t have time to do it properly.
Good on you for sticking with it and tracking down those leaks. Even small improvements can make a real difference on the heating bill, and honestly, a little “DIY chic” just adds character, right?
Funny how everyone talks about the windows, but in my experience, it’s almost never the glass. I had a draft in my living room for years—kept blaming the old windows—until I finally pulled off the trim and found a gap big enough for a mouse to squeeze through. Caulk helped, but honestly, the finish never quite matches. I’ve tried that window tape stuff too... works in a pinch, but like you said, it’s more of a stopgap than a fix. I feel like I’m always chasing drafts, no matter what I do.
I feel like I’m always chasing drafts, no matter what I do.
Story of my life. I swear, you fix one spot and a new breeze pops up somewhere else. I had a draft sneaking in behind the baseboard once—never would’ve guessed. Tape helped for a bit, but yeah, it’s not exactly a long-term solution. At this point, I just keep a tube of caulk and some painter’s putty handy... feels like whack-a-mole sometimes.
Man, tell me about it. I thought sealing the windows would finally do it, but then the cold started creeping in through the outlets—like, come on. The tape works for a season or two if you’re lucky, but after that it starts peeling, at least in my place. I just keep patching stuff every fall and hope for the best.