Totally agree about weatherstripping and caulking, they really do make a noticeable difference. Have you tried those clear window insulation kits, though? They're basically plastic film you shrink-fit with a hairdryer. Sounds kinda gimmicky, but I used them at my place last winter and was surprised how well they worked. You still get clear visibility outside, and it cuts down drafts significantly.
Also, quick question—have you checked if your window locks tightly? Sometimes the latch or lock gets loose over time and leaves a gap letting cold air sneak in. Tightening or replacing the hardware can be a super quick fix that people overlook.
And speaking of rattling panes...yeah, been there! If your windows are older, sometimes glazing putty dries out and cracks. Replacing it isn't too tough—just scrape out the old stuff and press new glazing putty into place. It's another step, sure, but it'll quiet things down nicely on windy nights.
Those window insulation kits surprised me too—I thought they'd look tacky, but they're actually pretty subtle once installed. Good tip about checking the locks, hadn't considered that...might explain why my kitchen window still feels drafty despite weatherstripping.
"Good tip about checking the locks, hadn't considered that...might explain why my kitchen window still feels drafty despite weatherstripping."
Glad I'm not the only one who overlooked the locks at first—felt pretty silly when I realized mine weren't fully engaging. A couple other quick things that helped me:
- Adjusting the window hinges slightly (if yours are adjustable)—sometimes a tiny tweak makes a big difference.
- Checking the caulking around the frame outside; mine had tiny cracks letting cold air sneak in.
Worth a quick look before winter really hits...
I had the same issue with my bedroom window—weatherstripping did almost nothing until I noticed the hinges were slightly loose. Tightened them up and it made a noticeable difference. Also, double-checking the exterior caulking is solid advice...mine looked fine at first glance, but when I poked around, found a few sneaky cracks letting cold air slip through. Definitely worth a quick inspection before temps really drop.
"mine looked fine at first glance, but when I poked around, found a few sneaky cracks letting cold air slip through."
Yeah, caulking can be deceptively tricky. Had a similar issue last winter—thought everything was sealed tight until I ran my hand along the edges on a windy day. Felt like an ice-cold breeze sneaking in. Honestly, weatherstripping alone rarely solves the whole problem... hinges and caulking are usually the real culprits. I'd also suggest checking if your window frame itself has warped slightly over time—wood frames especially can shift enough to cause gaps you wouldn't expect.
"Honestly, weatherstripping alone rarely solves the whole problem... hinges and caulking are usually the real culprits."
Yeah, totally agree with this. Have you checked if the window latch itself is still tight enough? Sometimes the latch loosens over time, and even a tiny gap there can let in a surprising amount of cold air. Happened to me last year—spent ages sealing every crack I could find, only to realize the latch wasn't pulling the window fully shut anymore. Felt pretty silly after all that caulking, haha.
Also, have you tried the candle trick yet? Just hold a lit candle near the edges on a breezy day and watch for flickering. It's an easy way to spot hidden drafts without freezing your fingers off. If you're looking for a quick fix until you can properly reseal, those shrink-wrap window insulation kits actually work pretty well in a pinch... not the prettiest solution, but hey, warmth over aesthetics sometimes, right?
Good call on the latch—I overlooked that myself once and felt pretty silly afterward. Another thing worth checking is the alignment of the window itself. Sometimes, especially with older windows, the frame can shift slightly over time, leaving tiny gaps that let cold air sneak in. I had a stubborn draft last winter and finally realized the window wasn't sitting flush anymore. A quick adjustment to the hinges and a bit of fresh caulk around the edges made a huge difference.
And yeah, those shrink-wrap kits aren't exactly stylish, but they saved me during a particularly chilly spell. If you're careful applying them (a hairdryer helps smooth out wrinkles), they're barely noticeable from inside. Plus, it's oddly satisfying watching them tighten up as you heat them... or maybe that's just me being weirdly entertained by home fixes, haha.
Anyway, sounds like you're already on the right track—just keep at it and you'll get there soon enough.
Good tips on the alignment—it's surprising how much difference a tiny shift can make. One other quick thing I've found helpful is checking the weatherstripping. Over time, it gets brittle or compressed, and swapping it out is pretty straightforward. Just peel off the old stuff, clean the surface, and press on new adhesive-backed stripping. Takes maybe 15 minutes tops and can really cut down on drafts. Sounds like you're already covering most bases though... good luck!
Weatherstripping definitely helps, but have you checked if the caulking around the window frame itself is still intact? Last winter, I kept feeling a chill near one of our living room windows and assumed it was just the weatherstripping. After replacing it, I still felt a bit of draft, which was pretty frustrating. Turned out the old caulk had cracked in several spots—barely noticeable unless you looked closely. Took me about half an hour to scrape off the loose stuff and run a fresh bead of silicone caulk along the edges. Problem solved almost immediately, and the room felt noticeably warmer afterward.
Have you noticed drafts only around the movable parts or also along the stationary frame edges? Sometimes it's easy to overlook those tiny cracks...
Good point about the caulking, but honestly, sometimes even fresh caulk and weatherstripping won't fully solve it. I had a similar issue with an older window in our bedroom—tried everything from new seals to carefully re-caulking the entire frame. Still felt drafts, especially on windy nights. Eventually figured out the window itself had warped slightly over time, which isn't uncommon in older homes. Tiny gaps formed between the frame and glass panes, letting cold air seep through.
Ended up using one of those clear plastic window insulation kits for a temporary fix. Took maybe 20 minutes to apply with a hairdryer, and surprisingly, it made a huge difference. Not the prettiest solution, sure, but it held up well all winter and kept the room noticeably warmer. Might be worth checking if the window itself has warped or shifted slightly...sometimes these quick fixes are more effective than you'd think.