I’ve definitely had the “pet vs. window plastic” showdown—my cat once managed to climb behind the film and just sat there, looking smug. I started using painter’s tape in addition to the kit tape, which helps a bit, but it’s not foolproof. The removable caulk trick is a good one; I’ve also tried rope caulk for really drafty corners, though it can get a little messy come spring. Storm windows are on my list too, but yeah... not a cheap or quick fix.
Painter’s tape is a clever workaround, but I’ve seen pets defeat just about every kind of tape eventually—guess they’re more determined than drafts sometimes. Out of curiosity, has anyone tried those magnetic interior storm panels? I keep wondering if they’re actually worth the price or just another thing for cats to mess with. Also, does rope caulk leave much residue on wood trim, or is it easy to clean up?
- Agree, tape’s no match for a determined pet—my dog peeled up blue tape in minutes.
- Magnetic panels: tried them last winter. They actually held up better than I expected, even with a curious cat in the mix. The magnets are strong, but if you’ve got a heavyweight jumper, they might pop loose. Not cheap, but the draft reduction was noticeable.
- Rope caulk: it sticks well, but on old wood trim I did notice a bit of oily residue after a season. Came off with a little elbow grease and mild soap, but I wouldn’t leave it on for years straight.
- If you’re after something low-maintenance, the magnetic panels might be less mess overall, but you’re paying for convenience.
- Honestly, nothing’s totally pet-proof... but the magnetic panels are less “chewable” than tape or caulk.
Honestly, nothing’s totally pet-proof... but the magnetic panels are less “chewable” than tape or caulk.
That lines up with what I’ve seen—my border collie shredded weatherstripping in a week but left the magnetic panel alone (probably because it didn’t flap or dangle). The only thing I’d add is condensation: did anyone notice moisture collecting behind the panels? I had a bit of that on single-pane glass during a cold snap, which made me wonder about long-term wood damage. Anyone try a vented approach or just stick to sealing everything tight?
Yeah, condensation’s been a headache for me too. I tried sealing everything up tight last winter and ended up with water pooling at the bottom edge of my old sash windows—didn’t notice until some paint started bubbling. Anyone tried leaving a tiny gap or using those little moisture absorber packs? Wonder if that’d help or just make it drafty again.
Tried those absorber packs last winter—honestly, they helped a little, but didn’t totally solve it. Still had some condensation on the coldest days, just not as much pooling at the bottom. Leaving a small gap made it less stuffy, but yeah, there was a bit of a draft, especially near the old sash frames. Felt like I was trading one problem for another.
What worked better for me was cracking the bathroom window after showers and running a fan in the kitchen when cooking. Not perfect, but less water on the windows overall. I’ve also heard some folks swear by secondary glazing film in winter—haven’t tried it yet myself though.
Curious if anyone’s found a fix that doesn’t make the place freezing or cost an arm and a leg…
Leaving a small gap made it less stuffy, but yeah, there was a bit of a draft, especially near the old sash frames. Felt like I was trading one problem for another.
Man, I hear you on those sash frames. Sometimes I think my windows are just trying to air condition the whole neighborhood. Here’s what I’ve seen work for folks who don’t want to shell out for brand new windows:
Step one—grab some of that clear shrink film (the kind you stick on with double-sided tape and hit with a hair dryer). It’s not pretty, but it’s cheap and actually cuts down on drafts a lot. You lose the ability to open the window easily, but in January, who’s doing that anyway?
Step two—rope caulk. Stuff it right into those frame gaps. It peels off in spring, no mess. Not the most glamorous fix, but it’s saved my toes from freezing more than once.
Curious, did your condensation get worse on certain windows, or was it pretty much all of them? Sometimes it’s just the ones that face the wind or get less sun...
Had the same deal with my old place—those sash windows looked cool but were basically wind tunnels in February. I tried the shrink film too, and yeah, it’s not going to win any style awards, but it actually helped more than I expected. Condensation was always worse on the north side for me, especially behind the couch where air didn’t move much. Never did find a perfect fix, just a bunch of little ones that made winter bearable. Funny how you end up learning to live with the quirks.
Never did find a perfect fix, just a bunch of little ones that made winter bearable. Funny how you end up learning to live with the quirks.
Yeah, that’s the story of every old house, isn’t it? I went through three different types of weatherstripping before I found one that actually stuck through a full season. Shrink film is ugly as sin but does its job—though if you’ve got cats, good luck keeping it intact. For condensation, I swear by a cheap fan set on low behind the couch. Not elegant, but it keeps air moving and cuts down on the damp. Sometimes it feels like you’re just playing whack-a-mole with drafts and drips... but hey, at least you get creative.
Shrink film and weatherstripping definitely have their place, but I’d push back a bit on relying solely on those quick fixes. In my experience, they’re really just band-aids, especially if your window frames themselves are the root of the problem. I’ve worked on plenty of cabins where the sashes are warped or the glazing’s shot—no amount of tape or plastic is going to seal that up for long. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and reglaze or even rebuild the sash, which isn’t fun but pays off in the long run.
As for condensation, fans help, but if you’re getting a lot, it might be worth looking at your window’s insulation value or even the humidity levels inside. I’ve seen folks put off replacing single-pane glass for years, but swapping in a double-pane insert (even just for the worst windows) can make a massive difference. It’s not the cheapest route, but sometimes it’s less hassle than fighting with film every winter... especially if you’ve got pets tearing it up anyway.