"Ended up switching to thermal curtains there, which worked way better."
Thermal curtains can help, sure, but they're more of a band-aid than a real fix. I've tried them myself and while they cut down drafts a bit, the cold air still sneaks in around the edges. Honestly, if you're feeling that much cold air coming through, you might want to check the window seals or caulking—could be they're worn out or cracked. A quick touch-up with fresh caulk made a noticeable difference for me, way more than curtains ever did.
Yeah, thermal curtains are decent for a quick fix, but like you said, they're not gonna solve everything. I had the same issue last winter—curtains helped a bit, but the real game changer was weather stripping tape. Super cheap and easy to apply, and it sealed up those sneaky drafts around the edges. Might wanna give that a shot before breaking out the caulk gun...
"Honestly, if you're feeling that much cold air coming through, you might want to check the window seals or caulking"
Definitely agree with this though—checking seals is always worth it.
Thermal curtains are alright, but honestly, they're more of a band-aid than a real fix. Weather stripping tape does help temporarily—I used it myself—but if you're feeling serious drafts, there's probably a bigger issue. Could be the window seals themselves or even the frame. I ended up pulling off some molding last year and found a gap big enough to slide my finger into...no wonder I was freezing. Quick foam insulation spray sorted it out nicely. Worth checking behind the scenes if the easy fixes aren't cutting it.
Had pretty much the same experience last winter. I thought thermal curtains were the answer until I noticed my cat pawing at the base of the window frame. Curious, I peeled back the trim and found gaps big enough to stash snacks in—no wonder my heating bill was ridiculous. Foam spray insulation saved me a ton of headaches (and cash). Definitely worth a peek behind the trim if you haven't already checked.
Wow, good call on checking behind the trim. Reminds me of when I found cold drafts coming from an outlet, of all places... never would’ve guessed. Foam insulation does wonders, glad you sorted yours out.
"Reminds me of when I found cold drafts coming from an outlet, of all places... never would’ve guessed."
Haha, outlets are sneaky little culprits. Had a similar surprise myself last winter—kept feeling this weird chill near the kitchen sink. Turned out the previous owner had installed cabinets right over an old vent opening without sealing it properly. Ended up pulling everything apart and patching it with foam board and spray foam. Messy afternoon, but totally worth it for warm toes while washing dishes.
I've found spray foam handy too, but honestly, sometimes it's more trouble than it's worth—especially if you ever need to access that area again. For smaller gaps or temporary fixes, I've had decent luck with rope caulk or even painter's tape in a pinch. Doesn't look amazing, but it gets the job done until you have time for a proper fix. Plus, cleanup is way easier than scraping dried foam off your hands... learned that one the hard way.
I've had mixed experiences with rope caulk myself—it's great for temporary fixes, but sometimes it can get messy if the gap is uneven or dusty. Have you tried using weatherstripping tape? It's pretty easy to apply and remove, and it seals gaps nicely without the hassle of foam cleanup. Learned my lesson after spending way too long scraping dried foam off a client's window frame... never again.
Totally relate to your foam nightmare—been there, scraped that. 😂
- Rope caulk is handy but yep, uneven gaps turn it into a dusty, crumbly mess.
- Weatherstripping tape saved my sanity last winter; easy on, easy off, no scraping drama.
- Also tried plastic window film once...worked great until my cat discovered it. RIP insulation.
Anyway, sounds like you're onto something solid with the tape. Good luck sealing out those drafts!
Weatherstripping tape is alright, but honestly, I found it loses stickiness pretty fast, especially if your window frames aren't super clean. Tried the plastic film too—no pets here, but the adhesive left marks that were a pain to clean later. Ended up using thermal curtains instead. They're not perfect, but at least they're easy to open and close, and zero scraping or peeling involved...