Struggling to keep drafts out—window sealing tape worth it?

I've actually had mixed results with silicone caulk, to be honest. It's true that it doesn't leave behind the sticky mess tape does, but I found it can sometimes crack or peel if your frames shift a lot with temperature changes. My house is older, and the window frames expand and contract quite a bit throughout the year. Last winter, I tried silicone caulking around my living room windows, and while it initially seemed great—no drafts, everything sealed up nicely—by springtime, I noticed tiny gaps forming again. Maybe it was my application technique, but I'm pretty sure the seasonal shifts just did their thing.

One alternative I've had better luck with is rope caulk (some people call it caulking cord). It's basically like putty, comes in strips, and it's super easy to press into place. The best part is that it stays flexible, so it moves with the frame a bit better than silicone. Plus, when warmer weather hits, you can just peel it off without damaging paint or leaving residue. It's not perfect—definitely not as sleek-looking as silicone—but it does the job, especially if you're dealing with drafty old windows like mine.

Another point I'd raise about foam weatherstripping: it does degrade pretty quickly, especially if exposed to direct sunlight or moisture. I replaced mine almost every year until I got tired of it. Tape isn't ideal either, but I do think it gets a bad rap. If you use decent quality sealing tape and prep the surface well, I've found it can last longer than people give it credit for. Yeah, it's a bit ugly, but if you're looking purely at effectiveness, it can hold its own.

Anyway, just my two cents... silicone is fine in certain situations, but if you're dealing with older frames or a lot of temperature swings, something more forgiving might be worth considering.

I've seen rope caulk work pretty well too, especially in older homes. Silicone can be tricky if your frames move a lot. Have you ever tried window film kits? They're not the prettiest, but I've heard good things about them for seasonal drafts.

Window film kits are alright, but honestly, I found them more hassle than they're worth. Tried one last winter—ended up wrestling with plastic wrap and double-sided tape for an hour, only to have my cat poke holes in it within days. If your windows move a lot, foam weatherstripping tape might be easier. It's cheap, forgiving, and doesn't turn your living room into a giant shrink-wrap project... just my two cents.

I totally get the frustration with those window film kits. I tried one myself last year, and while I didn't have a cat poking holes (lol), it was still a pain getting it smooth without wrinkles everywhere. Foam weatherstripping tape is definitely easier to handle, especially if your windows shift around a bit. Another thing that worked pretty well for me was rope caulk—it's like this putty stuff you press into gaps. Super forgiving, easy to remove in spring, and no wrestling matches involved.

Also, if you're feeling adventurous, you might wanna check out thermal curtains. I grabbed some on sale last winter and they made a noticeable difference in keeping drafts out. Plus, they're kinda cozy-looking too... bonus points for style, right? Anyway, good luck—drafty windows are no fun at all.

I hear you on the rope caulk—used that on a few jobs, and it’s surprisingly effective for old, drafty frames. I’ve seen folks get mixed results with window tape, though. Sometimes it sticks great, other times it peels up in a couple months, especially if the paint’s a bit flaky or there’s condensation. Curious—has anyone tried that magnetic window insulation? Wondering if it’s less hassle than the film kits or just another thing to fight with when spring rolls around...

I’ve actually tried the magnetic insulation on two windows last winter. Honestly, it was easier than the film kits—no hair dryer needed, just stick the strips on and snap the plastic in place. Only downside, the magnets didn’t always line up perfectly on my old, uneven frames, so there were tiny gaps. Still, way less hassle to take down in spring compared to peeling off tape and hoping I didn’t pull any paint with it. If your frames are pretty straight, it’s worth a shot.

- Totally agree on the spring removal—peeling off tape is my least favorite “DIY surprise.” Last year, I tried the film and tape on a few drafty windows. It worked, but getting the tape off was a gamble. Sometimes it just... didn’t.

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“no hair dryer needed, just stick the strips on and snap the plastic in place”

- My house is old enough that nothing’s straight, so magnetic stuff left me with tiny gaps too. Tape sealed better for me, but I paid for it in paint touch-ups.

- If you’ve got newer windows or don’t mind a little gap here and there, magnets are way less hassle. If you’re going for airtight and don’t care about some elbow grease in spring, tape still wins.

Drafts: 1, Me: 0... but at least my paint survived this year.

Magnetic seals sounded great until I actually tried them on my 1920s windows—turns out “close enough” doesn’t cut it when you can feel the breeze on your ankles. Tape and film really do the job, but yeah, getting that stuff off in spring is a gamble. One year, I lost a chunk of paint and had to touch up three sills. The next, it peeled off like nothing ever happened. No rhyme or reason.

Has anyone found a tape brand that’s less likely to take your paint with it? I’ve bounced between a couple, but they all seem to have the same risk, especially if you leave it on past March. Maybe it’s just the old, brittle paint on these frames...

I’m curious if anyone’s tried those double-sided foam tapes instead of the standard clear stuff. I keep seeing them at the hardware store, but I worry they’d be even worse for paint damage. Or do they actually come off cleaner?

Also—how are folks dealing with weird window shapes? I’ve got one window that’s more trapezoid than rectangle, and getting any film to stick without bunching up is a nightmare. I’ve thought about just using rope caulk for that one, but not sure if it’ll hold up all winter.

At this point, I’m willing to trade a bit of draft for not having to repaint every spring. Is there some middle ground I’m missing?

I’ve seen a lot of folks swear by rope caulk for odd-shaped windows, but honestly, it’s hit or miss for a full winter—especially if you get big temp swings. Foam tape’s usually worse for paint in my experience, since it tends to stick harder and can tear up old finishes. Ever thought about running a thin bead of removable silicone caulk instead? That stuff peels off like string when you’re done, at least on smoother frames. But yeah, with 1920s paint, it’s always a gamble. I’m curious—have you tried any of those newer “low-tack” tapes the window film companies are pushing lately? Wondering if they’re just marketing or actually gentler.

Tried those low-tack tapes last winter on a client’s old bungalow—paint was probably original, or close. Honestly, I was surprised. They came off way cleaner than the foam stuff, and didn’t leave much residue, but you’ve gotta press them down just right or they don’t seal as well. Removable silicone’s still my go-to for tricky frames, though. It’s just more forgiving if you’re dealing with crumbly old paint... but yeah, nothing’s perfect with windows that old.