We tried sealing around our original windows last winter, and honestly, it made a bigger impact on drafts than I expected. Condensation wasn't really our main issue, but the cold air sneaking in around the frames was noticeable—especially in our bedroom. After caulking those gaps, the room felt warmer almost immediately. But if your living room is like ours, with big old windows, sealing alone might not be enough. We ended up adding interior storm windows (the DIY kind with acrylic sheets and magnetic strips), and that combo really made a difference. The room went from "grab another sweater" chilly to comfortably cozy. I'd say go for it—it's a budget-friendly fix that's worth trying before you think about replacing windows entirely...
Did you notice any issues with condensation after adding those interior storm windows? I tried a similar DIY setup in our family room last year, and while it definitely helped with drafts (big improvement there), I started seeing some moisture buildup on colder days. Wondering if maybe I didn't seal them quite right or if that's just common with acrylic sheets... Curious how yours held up over the whole winter.
"I started seeing some moisture buildup on colder days."
Yeah, condensation can pop up if the seal isn't airtight or if humidity indoors is high. Acrylic sheets themselves aren't usually the culprit. Maybe double-check your sealing job or consider a small dehumidifier—worked wonders at my place last winter.
"Maybe double-check your sealing job or consider a small dehumidifier—worked wonders at my place last winter."
Definitely agree with this. One other thing I'd add is to check your ventilation too. I had a similar issue a couple winters ago, and it turned out my bathroom fan wasn't venting properly. Moisture from showers and cooking was hanging around way longer than it should've been, causing condensation on the windows.
Here's what I did: first, I cleaned out the exhaust vent (you'd be surprised how much lint and dust can build up in there). Next, I started leaving the bathroom fan running for an extra 10-15 minutes after showers. And finally, cracked open a window just slightly when cooking or boiling water—made a noticeable difference. No more foggy windows or drippy sills.
Not saying it's always ventilation, but it's worth checking out before you spend more money on sealing or gadgets... unless you're secretly looking for an excuse to buy that cool little dehumidifier you saw online (been there, done that).
"Definitely agree with this. One other thing I'd add is to check your ventilation too."
Good call on ventilation. Reminds me of a client I had last fall—he was convinced his windows were shot, ready to drop thousands on replacements. Turns out, his attic insulation was practically nonexistent. Warm air was hitting cold glass, instant condensation. A day of insulating fixed it completely... saved him a bundle. Worth checking insulation before you dive into window replacements or gadgets, just sayin'.
Good point about insulation. Had a similar issue a couple winters back—thought for sure my windows were toast because of all the moisture buildup. Even had a guy come out to quote replacements, and it was gonna cost a small fortune. Luckily, my neighbor mentioned checking the bathroom exhaust fan. Turns out, the vent hose had come loose in the attic, so all that humid air was just hanging around up there and seeping back down. Quick fix with some duct tape and clamps, and the condensation cleared up within days. Saved me from dropping serious cash on new windows. Definitely worth checking the simple stuff first before jumping into big expenses... learned that one the hard way.
"Definitely worth checking the simple stuff first before jumping into big expenses... learned that one the hard way."
Yep, been there myself. Also worth checking weatherstripping—mine looked fine at first glance, but a closer look showed it was cracked and brittle. Quick replacement made a huge difference, and my wallet thanked me later.
Good call on the weatherstripping, but did you notice much improvement with noise reduction too? I've replaced mine before and it helped with drafts, but traffic noise still seems pretty noticeable... maybe my expectations were just too high, lol.
Weatherstripping definitely helps with drafts, but yeah... noise reduction can be a bit trickier. I noticed some improvement, but honestly, it wasn't night and day. Traffic sounds are stubborn! One thing that did help me more was adding some heavier curtains—nothing fancy or expensive, just thicker fabric. Between that and the new weatherstripping, things got noticeably quieter. Might be worth a shot if you're still getting annoyed by traffic noise.
Curtains are definitely an underrated trick for noise reduction. Glad you mentioned that, actually. A lot of folks overlook how much fabric type and thickness can absorb sound waves. Did you notice if the type of curtain rod or how close the curtains were hung to the window made any difference? Sometimes small gaps around curtains can still let a surprising amount of noise through.
Another thing I've found helpful (without going broke on new windows) is sealing up any hidden gaps around the window frames themselves. Even tiny cracks can let in more noise than you'd expect. Have you tried checking around your window frames for gaps or cracks with a flashlight when it's dark outside? It's pretty eye-opening how much you can spot that way.
Also, just curious—are your windows single-pane or double-pane? Single-pane windows are notoriously bad at blocking sound, but even double-pane ones can struggle if the seals are worn down over time. Sometimes replacing just the glazing or adding storm windows (if your setup allows it) can be a budget-friendly compromise compared to full replacements.
Either way, sounds like you're already making solid progress. Traffic noise is stubborn as heck, so any improvement is a win in my book.