- I get the appeal of the shrink film—used it on a drafty guest room window last December. It did help with the cold, but I actually found it a hassle to get it tight without wrinkles. Maybe it’s just me, but it looked pretty obvious from outside, which bugged me more than tape.
- One thing I tried (with mixed results) was using clear silicone caulk along the crack. It’s not a long-term fix, but it held the glass together and blocked drafts better than tape or film, at least for a month or so. Downside: you have to scrape it off later, and it’s messy if you’re not careful.
- I’m a little wary of using food wrap near a heat source, especially with a hair dryer. Not sure if that’s a legit concern, but the idea of melted plastic on my window frame made me nervous.
- In my case, I ended up just biting the bullet and calling a local glass guy. It cost more than I wanted, but after one winter of improvising, I figured it was worth it.
- Short term, I’d probably go with caulk or even a piece of rigid plastic taped over the whole pane. Not pretty, but less fiddly than film. Long term, totally agree—just fix the glass and save yourself the headache.
I’ve tried the shrink film too and honestly, getting it smooth is a pain—one little wrinkle and it’s basically impossible to fix without starting over. Caulk does seal better, but I’ve had it pull up paint on the frame when I tried to remove it later. Has anyone messed with those temporary double-sided foam strips? I’m skeptical they’d actually hold up for more than a couple weeks, especially if you open the window at all... Curious if that’s just my luck or if someone’s found a brand that’s not total junk.
Funny you mention the foam strips—I actually tried them last winter when I was desperate and didn’t want to mess with caulk or film again. I used the 3M ones and, honestly, they stuck around longer than I thought (about a month), even with me cracking the window now and then. They left a little residue but no paint came up, which was a win compared to my caulk disaster. I wouldn’t trust them for a permanent fix, but for a quick patch job, they’re not as useless as I expected. Maybe worth a shot if you’re in a pinch?
I wouldn’t trust them for a permanent fix, but for a quick patch job, they’re not as useless as I expected.
Yeah, I had a similar experience when I tried those foam strips on my old basement window. They held up through a couple weeks of rain and cold, but honestly, once the temps dropped below freezing, they started to peel. Not terrible for a stopgap, but I ended up just biting the bullet and doing the film kit again. It’s more hassle, but at least I didn’t have to keep re-sticking things every few days.