You nailed it about weatherstripping. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been called out to fix up old windows where the only thing holding back a draft was a towel or, once, a rolled-up yoga mat (not kidding). The “quick fixes” are great in a pinch, but a little patience with proper weatherstripping saves so much headache down the line. I’m with you on the sticky tape—last winter I spent an hour scraping residue off a client’s 70s aluminum sashes… ended up using a plastic scraper and some elbow grease because nothing else was safe for the finish. Sometimes boring and basic wins over clever and complicated.
Sometimes boring and basic wins over clever and complicated.
Totally get this. I tried one of those “innovative” draft stoppers that’s supposed to slide under the window and seal everything up. Looked great on YouTube, but in reality it just made the sash harder to close and left black marks everywhere. In the end, I went back to the old-school foam strips—nothing fancy, but at least I know what I’m dealing with. I will say, though, getting the right thickness is key. Too thin and you’re still freezing, too thick and you’re fighting your own window every morning.
In the end, I went back to the old-school foam strips—nothing fancy, but at least I know what I’m dealing with.
Funny how that happens. I've tried a couple of those “miracle” gadgets myself and always end up crawling back to the basics. One thing I’ve found is that cleaning out the window tracks before putting on any new weatherstripping helps everything last longer (and stops that annoying grit from scratching the glass). Have you ever tried using silicone spray on the moving parts? Keeps things gliding, even with thicker foam. Curious if anyone’s had any luck with those shrink-wrap window kits—worth the hassle or just a pain to take off in spring?
I hear you on the basics—sometimes the tried-and-true stuff just works better. I’ve messed with those shrink-wrap kits a few winters now. They definitely help with drafts, but peeling them off in spring is a bit of a chore. Sometimes the sticky residue hangs around longer than I’d like. Still, for old windows, they’re not a bad quick fix. Silicone spray’s been a lifesaver for me too; makes the windows feel brand new.