I was skeptical about thermal curtains too, but honestly, they surprised me. I didn't see a huge drop in my heating bill, but comfort-wise, the difference was noticeable—especially near my drafty old windows. Mine aren't super thick or heavy either; they're just lined with a thermal backing. Definitely doesn't look like Dracula's lair, lol. Tried the window film kits once...they worked okay, but installing them neatly was kind of a pain.
I get why folks like thermal curtains, but honestly, I've seen better results sealing up the actual window gaps first. Drafty windows are usually leaking from the frame or sash—not just through the glass. A cheap tube of clear silicone caulk around the trim (inside or out) can make a bigger impact than curtains alone, especially in older houses. If you want to go the extra mile, weatherstripping around the sashes helps too. Curtains are great for comfort, but if the cold air's still sneaking in, you're only halfway there.
I’ve always wondered—if you seal everything up really well, do you ever run into issues with condensation or trapped moisture around the windows? I’ve seen houses where that became a problem after caulking. How do you balance tight sealing with letting things breathe a bit?
Definitely ran into this after I did a marathon caulking session around all our old windows. The first winter, I was feeling pretty smug about the lower heating bill... then started noticing condensation pooling on the sills every morning. Turns out, when you seal everything up tight, there's nowhere for that moisture to go—especially if you cook a lot or have a bunch of plants like we do.
What helped us was cracking a window just a bit in the bathroom and kitchen, especially after showers or when cooking. Also picked up one of those cheap humidity meters, which made it easier to spot when things were getting too damp. Some folks swear by trickle vents or even just running exhaust fans more often. Honestly, it's a balancing act. You want to keep drafts out, but if you go overboard, the house can't "breathe" and that's when you get mold or peeling paint.
Not saying don't seal things up—just maybe don't go full hermetically sealed bunker mode unless you're ready to deal with the side effects.
I’ve seen this play out so many times—folks get excited about sealing up drafts, then call me a year later about mystery mold or peeling paint. Happened to me too when I first bought my place, actually. Thought I was being clever with all the caulk and weatherstripping, but didn’t realize how much steam we were making just from showers and cooking. Now I always tell people: a little fresh air goes a long way, especially in older homes. Those old houses had “character” for a reason… they leaked just enough to keep things in balance.
I totally get that—when I first moved into my 1950s ranch, I went wild with the foam and caulk thinking I was gonna save a fortune. A year later, I had to repaint the bathroom ceiling because of all the condensation. Now I crack a window when showering and it’s made a world of difference. Has anyone tried those trickle vents or something similar? Curious if they actually help balance things out without making the place drafty.
- Never tried trickle vents myself, but I’ve read mixed things. Some folks swear by them for airflow, others say they just end up with cold spots.
- My bathroom gets steamy fast, too. Cracking the window works but then I feel like I’m just letting all my heat out.
- Wondering if a small exhaust fan with a timer might be better? Seems like it’d clear out moisture without making the room chilly.
- Anyone know if adding more insulation in the ceiling actually helps with condensation, or is that just wishful thinking? I’m always worried about mold creeping in behind the drywall...
I put in a small exhaust fan with a timer last winter—honestly, it’s made a big difference. Bathroom doesn’t get that swampy feel, and I’m not freezing after a shower. Insulation helps some, but if there’s still moisture hanging around, it won’t solve the mold worry on its own. I’d say ventilation first, then insulation.
Ventilation before insulation makes sense, especially in a bathroom where humidity’s the main culprit for mold. I’ve seen a lot of folks jump straight to beefing up insulation, thinking it’ll fix everything, but trapped moisture just finds new places to settle. The exhaust fan with a timer is a solid move—timers are underrated for making sure the air actually gets exchanged long enough after you’re done showering.
One thing I’d add: if you’re looking to keep heat in without cranking the thermostat, pay attention to where that exhaust fan vents. If it’s dumping warm, moist air into an attic or crawlspace instead of outside, you’ll just end up with condensation and eventually more heat loss through damp insulation. Sealing up any gaps around the vent duct helps too—air leaks are sneaky.
I insulated my bathroom exterior wall last year (dense-pack cellulose), and while it made mornings less chilly, it didn’t do much for the foggy mirror situation until I upgraded the fan. Now, with both in place, I barely notice drafts and the walls stay dry. It’s not a magic bullet though—cost adds up fast if you start replacing fans or tearing out drywall for insulation.
If anyone’s dealing with older windows in the bathroom, thermal curtains or even that shrink-wrap plastic film can make a surprising difference. Not pretty, but it cuts down on cold spots without much effort.
In my experience, it’s always a mix: decent ventilation to handle moisture, targeted insulation to cut down on heat loss, and plugging up weird little leaks (like around light fixtures or outlets). Chasing perfection gets expensive fast, but getting those basics right makes a noticeable difference without needing to blast the heat all winter.
Chasing perfection gets expensive fast, but getting those basics right makes a noticeable difference without needing to blast the heat all winter.
That’s the truth. I’ve spent years tinkering with our 1950s ranch and it’s always a trade-off between “good enough” and “wallet says stop.” The bit about fan venting is spot-on—when we moved in, ours was just dumping straight into the attic. Took me way too long to realize why the insulation up there was always damp. Rerouted it through the roof (with a proper insulated duct), and suddenly the musty smell vanished and frost stopped forming on the rafters.
Curious if anyone else has run into weird air leaks around electrical boxes? I swear, every winter I find another cold draft sneaking in behind a light switch or outlet. They make those foam gaskets, but honestly, sometimes I just stuff a bit of fiberglass in there and call it a day. Not sure it’s code-approved, but it works.
On windows—yeah, that shrink-wrap stuff isn’t winning any design awards, but for old single panes it’s hard to beat for the price. We tried thermal curtains too, but with our tiny bathroom window they mostly just got soggy from steam (even with the new fan).
One thing I haven’t seen mentioned much: heated towel racks. Not exactly energy efficient, but man, stepping out of the shower to a warm towel almost makes up for keeping the thermostat low. Anyone else tried those? Worth it or just another gadget?
I do wonder sometimes if all these little fixes add up as much as we hope. Like, is plugging every tiny gap really moving the needle compared to just biting the bullet and replacing old windows or adding proper insulation? Or maybe it’s just satisfying to feel like you’re outsmarting winter for another year...