"They're cheap, easy to install—just tape around the frame and hit it with a hairdryer—and they stop drafts cold."
- Just bought my first house and noticed drafts everywhere.
- Saw these kits at the store but wasn't sure if they'd actually work...
- Glad to hear they're easy—might give them a shot this weekend. Thanks for the tip!
Those kits definitely help, especially if you're dealing with older windows—I've used them myself a bunch of times. They're great as a quick fix, but just a heads-up: they're not a long-term solution. The plastic film creates an insulating air pocket, which cuts down on drafts and can even lower your heating bill noticeably. But if your windows are really old or poorly sealed, you might want to consider weather stripping or caulking around the frames for a more permanent fix. Also, check around outlets and switches on exterior walls—drafts sneak through those spots more than you'd think. Foam gaskets behind the plates can make a surprisingly big difference. Anyway, congrats on the new place... welcome to the never-ending battle against drafts!
"Also, check around outlets and switches on exterior walls—drafts sneak through those spots more than you'd think."
Totally agree with this. People overlook those little gaps all the time, but sealing them can really help. Another quick fix I've used on older windows is rope caulk—it's basically a removable putty you press into gaps around the frame. Not the prettiest solution, but it's easy to apply and remove later without damaging the paint. Plus, you can layer it thicker in spots where the drafts are worse.
One thing I'd slightly disagree with is that plastic film kits aren't always short-term. I've seen folks get through multiple winters with them if they're careful during installation. But yeah, eventually you're gonna want to bite the bullet and upgrade or seal properly. Drafty windows are just a headache... always something.
Good tip on rope caulk—used it myself and it does the trick. Few other quick fixes I've tried:
- Weatherstripping tape around window edges. Cheap, easy, but not always durable.
- Old-school trick: rolled towels or draft snakes along sills. Ugly? Yep. Effective? Surprisingly so.
- Plastic film kits do last longer if you're careful, but pets and kids seem determined to shorten their lifespan...
Honestly though, eventually upgrading windows is the only real fix. Everything else feels like a band-aid.
"Plastic film kits do last longer if you're careful, but pets and kids seem determined to shorten their lifespan..."
Ha, can confirm. My cat shredded mine in about two days. Anyone tried thermal curtains? Wondering if they're worth the extra cost or just another temporary fix...
I've had thermal curtains up for about a year now, and honestly, they're pretty decent. Not a miracle fix or anything, but definitely noticeable improvement. Just make sure they're wide enough to fully cover the window edges or you'll still feel drafts sneaking in... learned that the hard way.
Yeah, thermal curtains helped me too, but I found sealing the gaps around the window frame made an even bigger difference. I used weatherstripping tape—cheap and easy to apply. Just make sure you clean the surface first or it won't stick properly (learned that one the hard way...). Between that and the curtains, my living room feels way cozier now.
Good call on the weatherstripping tape—made a huge difference for me too. Another thing that helped was using one of those window insulation film kits. They're pretty cheap, and once you get past the initial awkwardness of applying the plastic (hairdryer step is weirdly satisfying, lol), they really do cut down drafts. Only downside is you can't open the window easily afterward... but who's opening windows in winter anyway? Have you tried those at all?
Yeah, those insulation film kits are surprisingly effective for a quick fix. The hairdryer step is oddly satisfying—I get what you mean, haha. Just a heads-up though, if your windows have wooden frames, be careful not to overheat one spot too long or you might damage the finish. But overall, they're great for temporary insulation. And you're right, who opens windows in winter anyway... unless you're cooking something smoky and set off the alarm (been there).
- Used those film kits last winter, gotta admit they're decent for a quick fix.
- But honestly, the hairdryer step drove me nuts—maybe I lack patience, but it felt tedious rather than satisfying.
- Good point about wooden frames, though. I learned that the hard way after slightly discoloring one corner of mine... oops.
- Another quick hack I've tried is rope caulk. Cheap, easy to apply, and you can peel it off without damaging paint.
- And yeah, windows do get opened in winter around here—especially when my cooking skills trigger the smoke alarm (more often than I'd like to admit).