I get where you’re coming from, but I’m not totally sold on heavy curtains as a real solution. Sure, they help with drafts a bit, but in my place (built in the ‘60s, original windows), I still felt the cold seeping in around the frames. Tried those shrink-wrap window kits—honestly, they made a bigger difference than the thickest drapes I could find. Maybe it’s just my climate (Midwest winters are brutal), but there’s only so much fabric can do when the glass itself is freezing. Curious if anyone’s tried interior storm windows? Those seem promising, though not cheap.
Heavy curtains are honestly more about comfort than real energy savings, in my experience. I’ve worked on a bunch of mid-century homes with original windows, and you’re right—the cold just finds its way in around the frames. The shrink-wrap kits are a solid quick fix for drafts, especially if you’re not ready to replace windows outright. I actually installed interior storm panels in my own 1958 ranch last winter—huge difference in both comfort and condensation. They’re not cheap, but if you’re planning to stay put a while, the payoff is real. Just takes some patience getting the fit right around old trim...
Interesting about the storm panels—I've thought about those but wasn't sure if they'd work with the funky trim in my '62 split-level. Did you run into any issues with moisture or mold after installing them? I keep hearing mixed things about how much ventilation you actually need to avoid condensation problems, especially in older homes. Curious if you had to tweak anything or if it just worked out of the box...
Did you run into any issues with moisture or mold after installing them?
Yeah, that was my big worry too. My place is a '58 ranch and the trim is all over the place, so I get what you mean. I did have to add some extra weatherstripping where the panel met the sill—otherwise, I noticed a little condensation building up, especially in the corners. No full-on mold, but it definitely needed tweaking. Ventilation is still key... I try to crack the windows every so often if we're getting a long stretch of rain. Not perfect, but better than dealing with drafty glass all winter.
I hear you on the condensation. I had the same thing pop up after putting in those plastic window kits a couple winters back. The corners would fog up, and if I left it too long, there’d be a little dampness on the sill. Never got to full-on mold, but I was worried about it. Ended up running a fan in that room more often, just to keep air moving.
Weatherstripping helps, but honestly, old houses are just tricky. My place is early 60s and nothing’s square—makes for some weird gaps no matter what you do. I’ve found cracking the window for a bit each day does more than any of the fancy stuff I tried. Not ideal when it’s freezing out, but better than dealing with moisture damage later.
Honestly, sometimes I wonder if these fixes are really worth the hassle or if I should just save up for proper new windows... but that price tag is no joke.
That’s exactly what I ran into with my 1958 place—nothing lines up, so you get those random cold spots and drafts no matter how much weatherstripping you slap on. I totally get the hesitation on new windows; the cost is wild, and honestly, sometimes the old ones have more character anyway. I’ve found that just wiping down the sills every couple days and running a dehumidifier when it’s really bad does enough to keep the worst of it at bay. Not perfect, but like you said, it beats dealing with mold or rot. Feels like half the battle is just staying one step ahead of the damp, honestly.
That’s been my experience too—old windows just don’t play by the rules, no matter how many tubes of caulk you throw at them. I’ve tried all the usual suspects: foam tape, rope caulk, those shrink-wrap kits. They help a bit, but there’s always some weird draft sneaking in from a spot you missed or a sash that doesn’t quite sit right. The dehumidifier trick is solid, though. I run one in the worst room, and it keeps the condensation down enough that I’m not constantly wiping up puddles.
I get the appeal of new windows, but honestly, the price tags are ridiculous for what you get. Plus, I’ve seen too many jobs where the “upgrade” looks out of place on an older house. Sometimes I wonder if the energy savings even pencil out unless you’re planning to stay put for decades.
One thing I started doing last winter was making those DIY window inserts with plexiglass and weatherstripping. Not pretty, but they cut the drafts way down, especially in the rooms we actually use. It’s kind of a pain to measure everything and get a decent seal, but it’s cheaper than full replacement and you can pop them out in the spring. Still, it’s a patch, not a fix.
The biggest headache for me is the hidden rot that shows up when you least expect it. I thought I was ahead of the game, then found a soft spot under a sill last fall—ended up having to pull the casing and do a patch job. Not fun, but better than letting it fester.
Honestly, sometimes I think these old places just want to keep us on our toes. You fix one thing, two more pop up. But yeah, staying ahead of the damp is half the battle… or maybe more like 75%.
The biggest headache for me is the hidden rot that shows up when you least expect it.
That hidden rot is the worst, right? I always think I’ve finally gotten ahead of the moisture, and then bam—there’s a mushy spot under the paint. I totally get what you’re saying about the cost of new windows, too. I ran the numbers for my place (1910s farmhouse, drafty as all get out) and even with the supposed energy savings, it’d take something like 20 years to break even. And honestly, I’m not sure the look would ever match the old woodwork.
I like your idea with the plexiglass inserts. Have you noticed much difference in your heating bill since you started using those? I’ve tried the shrink-wrap kits but never went full DIY with plexi. Also, what did you use for weatherstripping—just basic foam or something fancier? Wondering if it’s worth upgrading my setup this winter or if it’s just another patch that’ll need fiddling with every year.
And on staying ahead of damp… have you found any tricks for keeping condensation down besides the dehumidifier? Sometimes mine just can’t keep up on those really cold mornings.
I like your idea with the plexiglass inserts. Have you noticed much difference in your heating bill since you started using those? I’ve tried the shrink-wrap kits but never went full DIY with plexi. Also, what did you use for weatherstripping—just basic foam or something fancier?
Plexi inserts are a solid call for older windows, especially if you’re not ready to gut the originals. I’ve put them in a few places—nothing fancy, just cut-to-fit sheets with magnetic tape around the edge. They make a noticeable difference, at least as much as the plastic film kits but way sturdier and less annoying when you want to open a window mid-winter.
On weatherstripping, I used to go with the cheap foam but honestly, it wears out fast and gets gunky. Last year I switched to silicone V-strip. It’s a pain to install (lots of fiddling), but it seals better and seems to last longer—no drafty corners so far.
Condensation’s still a battle though. Besides the dehumidifier, I try to keep blinds open during the day so air circulates, and crack a window just a hair if it’s not arctic outside. Not perfect, but it helps keep things from getting swampy. Hidden rot is sneaky—sometimes all you can do is stay one step ahead and hope for the best.
Condensation’s still a battle though. Besides the dehumidifier, I try to keep blinds open during the day so air circulates, and crack a window just a hair if it’s not arctic outside.
Interesting you mention condensation—honestly, that’s why I stuck with the shrink-wrap kits. Plexi sounds sturdier, but I always worried about trapping even more moisture between layers and making the rot situation worse. Maybe it’s just my paranoia from living in a drafty old house, but sometimes the “cheap and replaceable” route feels safer for avoiding hidden mold. Anyone else feel like it’s a lose-lose with old windows?