I’ve wondered the same thing—my neighbor swears by interior storms, but honestly, the price tag made me pause. I mean, does it really beat just layering up with the film and heavy curtains? Anyone actually seen a big difference in their heating bill?
I bit the bullet and put in interior storms last winter, after years of wrestling with plastic film and those thick, drafty curtains. My house is 1940s brick, so it’s always been a challenge holding onto heat. The storms made a noticeable difference—less condensation, rooms felt less drafty, and my gas bill dropped about 15% over the season. That said, the upfront cost stung a bit, and I did all the measuring myself to save on install fees. Film and curtains worked okay in milder winters, but they just couldn’t cut it when temps really dipped. If your windows are leaky or single-pane like mine were, storms might be worth it long-term... but yeah, not cheap upfront.
- Good call on the interior storms—those old brick houses really do bleed heat, especially with single-pane glass.
- Upfront cost can be a gut punch, but you’ll likely make it back in a few winters.
- Doing your own measuring? Respect. It’s not always as straightforward as folks think, especially with older frames that aren’t square.
- Plastic film is a pain and doesn’t last, honestly. Storms are a solid long-term fix, even if they sting at first.
- If you’re seeing less condensation and lower bills already, you did something right.
I dunno, maybe I’m just stubborn, but I still swear by the plastic film—at least for a season or two. Yeah, it’s not pretty and you have to redo it every winter, but for folks who are cash-strapped (been there), it’s a heck of a lot cheaper up front than custom storms. Last year I did the whole downstairs for under $50 with that shrink stuff and a hairdryer. Not perfect, but it cut the drafts enough that my toes didn’t freeze off watching TV.
I will say, measuring those old windows is no joke. My house is from the 1920s and nothing is square. Tried to install an “easy fit” storm once and ended up with a gap big enough for a squirrel to come through—lesson learned.
Storms are definitely the long game, but I wouldn’t write off the cheap fixes if you need to buy some time. Plus, there’s something weirdly satisfying about peeling that film off in the spring...
Plastic film definitely has its place, especially when you’re staring down a pile of other repairs and the budget’s tight. I’ve done the same trick with the hairdryer, but every year I end up with at least one window where it won’t stick right and I’m fighting wrinkles for an hour. Ever tried those rope caulks? Wondering if they’re any less finicky for old, uneven frames...