Cold drafts sneaking in? Saw this trick on the news

Ever notice how some spots are always draftier, no matter what you do?

Yeah, I’ve run into that in my 1920s house. What’s worked for me is a step-by-step approach: first, I found the worst spots with a candle (watching for flickers near baseboards or outlets). Sometimes it’s not even windows - it’s gaps where the floor meets the wall, or old electrical boxes. Foam gaskets behind outlet covers helped more than I expected. Not perfect, but it’s way less drafty now.

Sometimes it’s not even windows - it’s gaps where the floor meets the wall, or old electrical boxes.

Totally agree - my living room has this one corner that’s always colder. Tried weatherstripping, but turns out the culprit was a tiny gap behind the baseboard. Caulk fixed most of it, but I still keep slippers handy... just in case.

- Totally get the struggle with cold spots, but I actually had a different experience with caulk.
- Used it on a gap in my old apartment, and it helped for a bit... but after a winter, it started pulling away because the house settled more than I thought.
- Ended up using that rope caulk stuff - kinda ugly, but way more flexible. Not permanent, but made a difference and was easy to remove when I moved out.
- Slippers are a must, though. I swear there’s always one spot that’s freezing no matter what you do.
- Also, not sure if anyone else has this, but I noticed outlets on exterior walls are draft magnets. Foam gaskets behind the cover plates made a bigger difference than I expected.
- Sometimes I wonder if it’s even worth chasing every draft... old houses have their quirks, and chasing perfection can get expensive fast.
- Anyway, just wanted to say caulk isn’t always a forever fix, especially if your place shifts a lot. Might be worth checking out some of those temporary options if it keeps coming back.

Rope caulk - now there’s a blast from the past. I tried that in my first house, a 1920s special with windows that rattled every time a truck drove by. Looked like I’d stuffed spaghetti in the cracks, but it did help for a while. The foam gaskets behind outlets are underrated, though. Ever tried those window insulation kits with the shrink film? I always end up melting part of the curtain with the hair dryer... but it’s worth it for a few less icy blasts. Anyone else have a weird spot that stays cold no matter what you do?

That’s funny, I’ve actually had the same issue with the shrink film kits - either the plastic gets all wrinkly or I end up singeing something nearby. It does help, but it’s kind of a pain every year. I’m in an old house too and there’s this one corner in my living room that stays freezing no matter what I try. I’ve sealed windows, put foam on outlets, even tried those draft stoppers along the floorboards. Still cold.

Has anyone tried using thermal curtains? I keep seeing them online but not sure if they really make a difference, especially for weird cold pockets like that. Or is it just a lost cause unless you redo the insulation completely? Sometimes it feels like these old houses just want to stay drafty...

I hear you - old houses just seem to have a mind of their own when it comes to drafts. I’ve actually tried thermal curtains over some of my draftiest windows. They do help, but honestly, it’s not a miracle fix. The room feels less chilly, but if there’s a real cold pocket (like that weird corner), it only does so much unless the underlying insulation is sorted. Sometimes I wonder if the drafts are coming from inside the walls or under the floor. Have you checked for gaps around the baseboards or even under the house? That made a difference for me once, though it was a pain to get to.

I’m with you - thermal curtains are nice, but they’re more of a band-aid than a cure. In my place (built in the 1920s), I found drafts sneaking in from the weirdest spots - like, not just windows, but under the floorboards and even through old electrical outlets. I actually pulled up a couple of baseboards and stuffed some insulation in there, which helped more than I expected. It’s a hassle, but sometimes you’ve gotta get a little hands-on or you’ll just keep chasing that cold air around.

Yeah, chasing drafts in these old places is like playing whack-a-mole. I’ve done the same - pulled up baseboards, stuffed insulation wherever I could reach. Sometimes I wonder if it’s ever really “done,” but every little bit helps. Honestly, the outlets surprised me too. Who knew cold air could sneak in there? It’s a pain, but you’re right - sometimes you just gotta get hands-on or you’ll freeze all winter.

- Pulled up my fair share of baseboards too - sometimes it feels like the cold finds new ways in every winter.
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“Honestly, the outlets surprised me too. Who knew cold air could sneak in there?”

Same here. I added those foam gaskets behind the cover plates, and it did help a bit, but not a total fix.
- Still get a draft along the floor in the living room, even after sealing up what I could see. Wondering if it’s coming through the crawlspace or maybe even old window weights inside the walls.
- Have you tried one of those thermal cameras (even just the phone attachment kind)? I borrowed one from a friend last year and found leaks I’d never have guessed - especially around the door trim and where two walls meet at corners.
- Curious if anyone’s had luck with those door sweeps or if they’re more hassle than they’re worth. I keep thinking about putting one on the back door, but not sure it’ll hold up to all the traffic.

- Definitely agree on the foam gaskets - helped some, but didn’t solve everything for me either.
- Door sweeps are worth it in my book, especially on older doors. The stick-on kind wore out fast, but the screw-on metal/rubber ones held up okay, even with kids and a dog running in and out.
- Thermal camera’s a game changer. Borrowed one and found a nasty cold spot behind my built-ins... turned out to be an uninsulated patch from a previous reno.
- Drafts along the floor usually meant crawlspace issues at my place. Sealing up the rim joist with spray foam made a noticeable difference, though it’s a messy job.
- Outlets and corners still sneak up on me every winter. Never-ending battle, honestly.