Sometimes I wonder if it's worth the effort for every single spot or if it's smarter to just focus on the worst offenders and call it good.
I hear you on that. Here’s what worked for me:
- Focused on the rooms we actually use the most (living room, bedrooms). Didn’t stress as much about closets or less-used corners.
- Used weatherstripping for windows/doors, but honestly, those beanbag-style draft stoppers under doors made a noticeable difference on windy days. Not fancy, just practical.
- Low-expanding foam was great for bigger gaps behind trim—just don’t overdo it or you’ll have a mess.
- Never got it 100% perfect either. Old houses just do their thing sometimes.
I’d say tackle the spots where you really feel it and don’t sweat every single crack unless you’re super sensitive to drafts.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve always wondered if all that effort chasing every tiny gap is really worth it. Did you notice any difference in your heating bill after you did the main rooms? Or was it more just about comfort?
I actually wondered the same thing until I moved in here. After sealing up the main living areas, my heating bill dropped a little—maybe 10%? But honestly, what I noticed most was not feeling that weird draft on my ankles anymore. The little stuff in corners or closets didn’t seem to change much, but the rooms we use every day definitely felt cozier.
I actually wondered the same thing until I moved in here.
I gotta say, I had kind of the opposite experience. After my new windows went in, I got obsessed with all those tiny gaps—like, behind the fridge or in the coat closet. I know it sounds nuts, but once I sealed those up too, my place actually felt warmer overall. Maybe it’s just my drafty old house, but I swear even the rooms I barely use stopped feeling like walk-in freezers. Might be overkill for some places, but in my case, the "little stuff" made a bigger difference than I expected.
That actually lines up with a lot of what I see in older homes—those little gaps sneak up on you. It’s wild how much cold air can come through spots you don’t even think about, like behind appliances or in closets. Did you use foam or just weatherstripping for the trickier spots? Sometimes the “overkill” is what finally tips the scale toward real comfort, especially in drafty places. Good on you for tackling it head-on... most folks just live with the chill.
- Definitely agree, those hidden gaps are the worst offenders. I’ve found that even after a “good” window install, you still get weird drafts if you don’t hunt down the sneaky spots.
- For me, foam worked better in the bigger, awkward spaces—like behind the baseboards and around pipes. Weatherstripping is fine for doors and windows, but it doesn’t always cut it for those irregular holes.
- One thing I’ll say: sometimes all the extra sealing feels like overkill, but then you realize your heating bill drops and you’re not freezing in the hallway anymore. That’s when it pays off.
- On the flip side, I did go too far with spray foam once—ended up making a closet smell weird for weeks. There’s a balance. Not every crack needs industrial-grade foam, especially near anything that needs to breathe (like old brick or wood).
- Honestly, half the time I wonder if it’s just my house being stubbornly drafty because it’s 80+ years old. But after sealing around outlets and even under the stairs, I noticed less noise from outside and way fewer cold spots.
- The only thing I’m not sold on is those plastic window kits. Tried them one winter—looked terrible and didn’t really help much. Maybe better for single-pane windows? Not sure.
- If you haven’t checked attic access panels or crawlspace vents, that’s another spot where air sneaks in. Took me forever to figure out why my upstairs was always cold... turns out there was a gap around the attic hatch big enough to slip a finger through.
Not saying it’s ever “done,” but yeah—those little details after windows make more difference than people think.