I feel your pain on the duct-tape fiasco...been there, done that, still finding sticky residue years later. Interior storms were a game changer for me too, especially with my old wood-frame windows. I did exterior storms first, and while they helped, moisture buildup was a constant headache. Switched to interior storms a couple winters ago—no more condensation drama, and the house is noticeably quieter. Definitely worth the effort, even if DIY installation had me muttering under my breath a few times...
"DIY installation had me muttering under my breath a few times..."
Ha, glad I'm not the only one who ends up grumbling through these projects. Did you notice much difference in drafts after switching to interior storms? I've been debating making the switch myself—my exterior storms do help, but like you mentioned, condensation is a constant battle. I even tried those moisture-absorbing silica gel packs last winter (got desperate), but they didn't make much difference. Curious, did you go with acrylic or glass panels for your interior storms? I've heard acrylic is lighter and easier to handle, but I'm wondering if there's a noticeable difference in insulation or clarity. Always seems like there's another layer of detail to consider with these home projects...
I switched to acrylic panels last winter, mostly because I dreaded the idea of wrestling with heavy glass panels during installation. Honestly, the difference in weight alone made the DIY process way less frustrating—still muttered a few choice words, but fewer bruised knuckles at least. As far as clarity goes, acrylic is pretty decent; you might notice a slight distortion if you look at an angle, but straight-on views are clear enough that it hasn't bothered me.
Insulation-wise, I did notice fewer drafts almost immediately. Condensation isn't completely gone, but it's definitely improved compared to my old exterior storms. One thing I'd recommend is making sure the acrylic panels have a good seal around the edges—mine came with weatherstripping tape, and that seemed to help quite a bit. Silica gel packs didn't do much for me either, unfortunately... seems like they're better suited for smaller enclosed spaces rather than window cavities.
I went acrylic a couple years back too, and yeah, the weight difference is a lifesaver when you're balancing on a ladder in freezing temps. Agree about the clarity—it's fine head-on, but angled views can get a bit wonky. One thing I found helpful for condensation was adding a second layer of weatherstripping tape around the edges. Didn't eliminate it completely, but definitely cut down on moisture buildup. Silica packs were useless for me too... guess they're better off in shoeboxes or camera bags, lol.
"Silica packs were useless for me too... guess they're better off in shoeboxes or camera bags, lol."
Yeah, silica packs didn't do much for me either. One trick I found useful was drilling tiny vent holes at the bottom corners—lets moisture escape without letting cold drafts in. Worked surprisingly well.
I've tried the drilling trick too, and it does help a bit. But honestly, the biggest difference for me came from using shrink film insulation kits. They're pretty cheap and easy to install—just stick the double-sided tape around the window frame, stretch the plastic film over it, and use a hairdryer to tighten it up. It creates a decent barrier against moisture and drafts. Not perfect, but way better than silica packs or just vent holes alone...
"They're pretty cheap and easy to install—just stick the double-sided tape around the window frame, stretch the plastic film over it, and use a hairdryer to tighten it up."
Yeah, those shrink film kits are decent, but have you noticed any issues with residue from the tape when removing them in spring? Last year, I spent more time cleaning sticky gunk than installing the film itself, haha. Also curious if anyone's tried combining drilling holes with shrink film—would that help moisture escape without losing too much insulation...?
Yeah, the tape residue is annoying—I found using rubbing alcohol helps clean it off quicker. Not sure about drilling holes though...might defeat the purpose by letting cold air seep in? I've had better luck just cracking windows occasionally to vent moisture.
Rubbing alcohol definitely helps with residue, good call there. About drilling holes though...I get your hesitation, but actually, small vent holes can be pretty effective if done right. The key is placement and size—tiny holes drilled at the bottom edge of the window frame (the outer side, not indoors) can help drain condensation without letting in noticeable drafts. I've installed quite a few windows in colder climates, and as long as you keep the holes small (think 1/8 inch or less) and angled slightly downward, you shouldn't feel any cold air coming through.
Cracking windows occasionally works too, but it can be a hassle and sometimes lets out too much heat. If you're worried about drafts, you could also try installing trickle vents—they're specifically designed to manage airflow without compromising insulation. Just another option to consider if you're dealing with persistent moisture issues.
Interesting points about drilling small holes—I've heard similar advice before, but honestly, I've always been a bit skeptical. A few winters back, I had a neighbor who tried the tiny hole method on his window frames. He did everything right, angled downward, small size and all that...but somehow moisture still found its way in and ended up freezing inside the frame. The ice buildup actually warped his window slightly over time.
Since then, I've leaned more towards using moisture absorbers like silica gel packs or those moisture-absorbing buckets you can tuck away discreetly. They're not perfect either—need replacing every now and then—but at least there's no permanent modification to your windows. Trickle vents sound promising too, though I haven't personally tried them yet. Maybe I'll look into those next time around...