I tried caulking around the outside frames last winter, and honestly, it made a noticeable difference. Just make sure you scrape out the old stuff first—learned that the hard way when mine peeled off after a month or two...
I had the same issue last year—caulking definitely helped, but what really saved me was putting up some of that shrink-wrap window film on the inside. I was skeptical at first (figured it'd look tacky as heck), but honestly, once you hit it with a hair dryer, it tightens right up and you barely notice it's there. Plus, it made my living room feel way warmer. Just don't try applying it after a couple beers...ask me how I know.
Good call on the shrink-wrap stuff—used it myself a couple winters back and it definitely made a difference. A few other quick fixes I've tried:
- Heavy curtains or thermal blinds help more than you'd think.
- Weather stripping tape around the edges if caulking isn't enough.
- Draft stoppers (those fabric tubes) at the bottom edge—cheap and effective.
None of these are permanent solutions, but they'll get you through winter without freezing your toes off...
Shrink-wrap is decent, but honestly, I found the thermal blinds a bit disappointing. Maybe it's just my windows, but even the heavy-duty curtains didn't seem to cut down the chill that much for me. Ended up swapping to cellular shades last year and it was a noticeable improvement. They're pricier, yeah, but worth considering if the budget allows. Draft stoppers though...those things are golden, no argument there.
Interesting you mention cellular shades—I've seen them make a big difference too, especially with older windows. Did you notice if your windows had any gaps around the frames or sashes? Sometimes even tiny gaps can let in a surprising amount of cold air. Draft stoppers are great for doors, but have you tried weatherstripping tape around the window edges? It's pretty affordable and might help seal things up a bit better...
Cellular shades are decent, but honestly, weatherstripping is the real MVP here. I used to think my windows were fine until I felt that sneaky cold draft coming in around the edges—tiny gaps you wouldn't even notice visually. Got some cheap foam weatherstripping tape from the hardware store, and it was night and day difference. Just make sure you clean the surface first so it sticks properly... learned that one the hard way.
Totally agree about weatherstripping—made a huge difference for me too. Another quick fix I've used is rope caulk. It's like putty, super easy to press into gaps, and you can peel it off later without damaging paint. Helped me seal up an old window frame that foam tape couldn't quite handle. Worth a shot if you're still feeling drafts...
Rope caulk's good stuff, used it myself a few winters back. Another trick I've tried is those shrink-wrap window kits—looks kinda goofy at first, but man, they really cut down on drafts. Worth the weird looks from neighbors, lol.
Haha, yeah, those shrink-wrap kits really do the trick—once you get past feeling like you're sealing up leftovers in your own home. I've recommended them a few times to clients who need a quick fix before winter hits hard. Another thing I've seen work surprisingly well is bubble wrap. A homeowner I worked with last year taped some bubble wrap over her basement windows—looked a bit funky, I'll admit—but it seriously cut down on the chill down there. She joked that at least if she got bored, she'd have something to pop for stress relief...
If you're looking for something less noticeable, though, weatherstripping tape around the window frame can help a ton. It's cheap and easy to apply yourself. Did that at my own house when we had some surprise cold snaps last season and it made a noticeable difference without alerting the neighbors to my DIY desperation.
"Another thing I've seen work surprisingly well is bubble wrap."
Bubble wrap definitely works, but yeah... the aesthetics are questionable, haha. I've had luck using insulating curtains myself—picked up some thermal-backed ones last winter and noticed an immediate difference. Plus, they're easy enough to open up when you want some daylight. Curious if anyone has tried combining weatherstripping tape with curtains or blinds for extra insulation? Wondering if it's worth the extra effort or just overkill.