Never thought about pipe insulation foam, though... might give that a go next time the wind picks up.
Funny enough, I’ve seen folks use pipe insulation foam in a pinch and it actually seals out drafts better than you’d expect. It’s not the prettiest fix, but if you tuck it in tight along the bottom of the sash, it really cuts down on that icy air sneaking in. I’m with you on the towel trick—done that plenty when I’m too lazy to dig out supplies. If you’ve got old windows, even painter’s tape pressed into the cracks can help for a night or two. Not fancy, but hey, whatever keeps the heat in...
Pipe insulation foam definitely isn’t winning any beauty contests, but I’ll take ugly over freezing toes any day. I’ve actually wedged it in a couple of spots where the old weatherstripping gave up—works surprisingly well, especially when you don’t want to mess with plastic film kits. I’ve also tried the painter’s tape trick, but if you’ve got a cat like mine, expect to reapply... frequently. Sometimes I wonder if these “temporary” fixes just become permanent solutions because I never get around to the real repair.
I’ve done the same thing with foam—just crammed it in the gaps and called it good enough for now. Honestly, it’s been there for two winters. Have you ever tried those rope caulk strips? I keep seeing them at the hardware store but can’t decide if they’re worth it or just another “temporary” solution that’ll stick around way too long.
Have you ever tried those rope caulk strips? I keep seeing them at the hardware store but can’t decide if they’re worth it or just another “temporary” solution that’ll stick around way too long.
I actually gave those rope caulk strips a shot last fall when I ran out of patience with the draft around my living room window. They’re super easy to smush into the gaps, and honestly, they did block a ton of the cold air. The downside is they’re not exactly pretty—mine picked up dust and looked a little grimy by spring. But as a stopgap, they worked better than the foam for me. I guess it’s one of those “temporary” fixes that’s still hanging on, but at least it’s not letting in a breeze. If you’re not ready to do a full caulk job, they’re not a bad middle ground.
Rope caulk strips do the job in a pinch, but honestly, they’re not something I’d rely on for more than a season or two. They’re easy to press in, sure, but if you’ve got any kind of movement in your windows or if the gaps are uneven, you’ll still end up with leaks at the edges. Plus, once they start picking up dust or getting brittle, you’re back to square one.
I’ve seen folks use them and forget about it for years, but then when it comes time to actually fix the window properly, there’s a mess to clean up. And sometimes that sticky residue doesn’t want to come off the frame without some elbow grease. If you’re after something quick before winter hits, weatherstripping tape is usually less messy and does a better job sealing—especially on old wooden windows where the sashes don’t sit flush anymore.
If you’ve got storm windows or can add a plastic film kit over the whole window, that’s another layer of defense. Not pretty either, but it keeps drafts out and is easy to remove in spring. In my experience, rope caulk is better than nothing but it’s not a real fix. If you’ve got the time and tools, even just running a bead of removable caulk around the problem spots will last longer and look cleaner.
Temporary fixes are fine if you’re renting or just waiting until you can do a full repair. But if this is your place long-term and drafts are an ongoing headache every winter, it might be worth biting the bullet and doing some proper sealing or considering new windows down the line.
If you’ve got storm windows or can add a plastic film kit over the whole window, that’s another layer of defense. Not pretty either, but it keeps drafts out and is easy to remove in spring.
I’ll second the plastic film kits—they look a little odd, but I swear by them every winter. We used to have these old single-pane windows and, before we finally replaced them, that shrink-wrap stuff was a lifesaver. One year I tried rope caulk and just ended up with sticky fingers and a drafty living room anyway. The film is cheap, works fast, and peels right off in March. Not glamorous, but hey, whatever keeps the heat in...
- Used the plastic film kits for years—totally agree, they're not pretty but they work.
- Tried those “thermal” curtains too. They helped a bit, but not as much as the film.
- Draft stoppers at the bottom of the window frame made a small difference for me.
- Anyone else notice the tape sometimes peels off if it gets too cold? Maybe I just got cheap tape...
- Had the same tape-peeling issue last winter—thought it was just me being cheap with the tape too.
- Switched to the “extreme weather” double-sided stuff and it held up way better, even when it dipped below -10°C.
- Honestly, the film isn’t pretty but it’s been a lifesaver in my old 60s house.
- Tried rolling up an old towel as a draft stopper—works in a pinch, not fancy but better than nothing.
- Haven’t had much luck with thermal curtains either...they just look heavy and don’t really cut it on their own.
I’ve run into that tape-peeling problem too, especially in older homes where the frames aren’t totally smooth. The “extreme weather” tape is a step up, but I’ve had mixed results depending on the paint and humidity—sometimes it just doesn’t want to stick. One thing I’ve found works better than towels is using foam weatherstripping around the sash or even rope caulk if you don’t mind a more permanent look for the season. As for thermal curtains, they only really help if you can get a good seal around the window frame—otherwise, cold air just sneaks right past. Sometimes it’s less about the product and more about how well you can block those little gaps...
Sometimes it’s less about the product and more about how well you can block those little gaps...
Yeah, this is spot on. I’ve thrown money at all sorts of “miracle” window kits, but if the frame’s warped or the paint’s flaking, nothing really sticks for long. Rope caulk worked best for me last winter—ugly as sin, but it kept the draft out. I tried thermal curtains too, but honestly, unless you’re taping them to the wall, cold air just finds its way in anyway. Sometimes a rolled-up old blanket jammed in the gap does as much as any fancy product.