Have you ever tried adding thermal curtains or heavy drapes into the mix? Sometimes that extra layer helps with drafts and condensation, but I’m curious if it actually makes much difference for anyone else.
I’ve definitely noticed a difference with thermal curtains, but it’s not as dramatic as you’d hope unless you’re really sealing things up tight elsewhere. In my place (1940s brick, single-pane windows that have seen better days), I use removable caulk every winter and it’s a game changer for stopping those sneaky drafts. Rope caulk is handy too—doesn’t seem to leave much residue if you pull it slow, but I’ve had a couple of spots where it left a faint line on the paint. Not a huge deal, just needed a little extra scrubbing.
About the curtains—I hung up some heavy blackout drapes last year, mostly for light control, but I did notice the room felt less chilly by the windows. I think it helps trap a layer of air between the glass and the fabric, which slows down the heat loss. But if you’ve got a really leaky window, you’ll still feel cold air sneaking around the edges unless you seal those up first. The combo of caulk (or even that window film shrink stuff) plus curtains seems to work best.
One thing I ran into: if you keep the curtains closed all day in winter, sometimes condensation builds up on the glass behind them, especially if your house is humid. Not sure if anyone else gets that? I started cracking the curtains open a bit during the day to let things dry out.
Curious if anyone’s tried those magnetic window insulation kits? I keep seeing them online but haven’t taken the plunge yet. Always looking for something that’s easy to put up and take down, since I like to open the windows in spring.
I tried those magnetic kits last winter—honestly, they were easier to put up than the shrink film, but didn’t seal quite as tight around my warped old frames. Still better than nothing, and way less hassle to take down in spring. Curtains definitely help, but like you said, gotta tackle the leaks first or you’re just fighting a losing battle. The condensation thing drives me nuts too... I’ll sometimes prop the curtains open with a broom handle just to let the glass breathe.
- Magnetic kits are quick, but yeah, they don’t always fit tight if your frames are out of whack.
- Shrink film seals better, just a pain to put up and take down—plus, one wrong move with the hair dryer and you’re starting over.
- For warped frames, sometimes a little rope caulk or foam tape helps fill those weird gaps before you slap on the kit.
- Condensation’s a beast... I’ve seen folks use a fan on low by the window to keep air moving. Not pretty, but it works in a pinch.
- Props for the broom handle trick—whatever keeps the mold at bay, right?
Shrink film’s been a mixed bag for me. I tried it a couple winters back on the north-facing windows, and yeah, it sealed up tight—until my cat decided to paw at the crinkly plastic. That was the end of that experiment. The magnetic kits looked promising, but my old house has frames that are more “abstract art” than square, so there were gaps no matter how much I fiddled with them.
Rope caulk is underrated though. It’s not pretty, but it squishes into those weird spots the tape and magnets just can’t handle. I did have trouble getting it out in spring—left a sticky residue that took some elbow grease. Maybe I just used too much or left it on too long?
Condensation’s been my real headache. Even with a fan running, I still get that damp patch along the sill by February. Tried cracking the window just a hair to let moisture out, but then you’re letting cold air in… kind of defeats the purpose. Anyone actually solved this without buying a dehumidifier or running fans 24/7?
Curious if anyone’s had luck with those interior storm panels you can DIY from plexiglass and magnetic tape? They look like a pain to make, but maybe worth it if you’ve got weird window sizes like mine.
- Had a similar saga with shrink film—my dog didn’t love the crinkly noise either, so that lasted about a week.
- Tried the plexiglass interior storms last winter. Honestly, not as tough as I expected. Used magnetic tape plus some weatherstripping to fill the weird gaps (my house is 1920s, nothing’s square). Needed a bit of trial and error with measurements though.
- Condensation improved, but didn’t disappear. Still get a little along the bottom edge, maybe from imperfect seals? Not running fans all day helped keep the room quieter at least.
- If you don’t mind a weekend project and some fiddling, those panels are a decent upgrade over film. They’re reusable too, which is nice considering how much shrink film costs add up.
- Honestly, I found the plexiglass panels a bit more hassle than they were worth. The fit’s never perfect on my 1915 windows, and the magnets slipped after a month. Ended up just caulking the worst gaps and using thermal curtains instead—less fiddling, still quiet. Condensation’s not gone, but at least it’s manageable now.
I hear you on the plexiglass panels—tried them on my 1920s bungalow, and let’s just say “precision fit” wasn’t in the cards. Magnets kept popping loose every time the temperature swung, which was... often. Honestly, I got more mileage out of some plain old rope caulk and layered drapes. Not glamorous, but it cut the worst of the draft and I didn’t have to chase rogue panels across the living room. Condensation’s still a nuisance here too, but at least I’m not wrestling with plastic every week.
Rope caulk’s been my go-to for a while too—honestly, it’s kind of amazing how much of a difference it makes for something so basic. I tried the shrink-wrap window kits one winter (the kind you blow dry to tighten), and while they did help with drafts, I always ended up with weird wrinkles and the tape started peeling after a couple months. Maybe it’s just my clumsy install skills, but drapes plus caulk ended up being less hassle for me. Condensation is still a puzzle though... sometimes I wonder if I’m just trapping too much moisture inside.
Yeah, I hear you on the shrink-wrap kits. They look so promising in the box, but then you end up with a crinkly plastic window and tape that gives up halfway through winter. Rope caulk’s definitely more forgiving—you can squish it into all the weird gaps, and if you mess up, just peel it off and try again.
Condensation’s a whole other beast. When you seal up every draft, you’re basically locking in all the moisture from showers, cooking, even just breathing. If your house is older (like mine—built in the 40s), it probably isn’t super airtight to begin with, but once you start blocking drafts, humidity creeps up fast. I had to start cracking a window in the bathroom or running the fan more often just to keep the windows from fogging up every morning.
If you’re seeing water pooling or mold around the sills, a cheap hygrometer can help figure out if your humidity’s getting out of hand. Sometimes it’s just a balancing act—warmth versus ventilation. Never thought winter would turn me into a humidity nerd...
I totally get where you’re coming from with the shrink-wrap kits being kind of a letdown. They look so promising in the aisle, but in my experience, it’s almost impossible to get them tight enough without a few wrinkles, and one rogue cat claw or a bit of tape peeling up and the whole thing’s toast. Rope caulk is definitely easier for quick fixes and odd-shaped gaps, but I actually think those plastic kits can still be useful—just not as a long-term solution.
Here’s the thing: I’ve found that if you’re dealing with really drafty old windows (mine are original to the house—1930s, single pane, and zero insulation), sometimes you need a combo approach. Rope caulk around the sash stops the worst air leaks, but if you put a shrink-wrap kit over that, it can help cut down on the cold radiating from the glass itself. The trick is to only seal up rooms you don’t use much—like spare bedrooms—so you’re not totally locking in all the moisture everywhere. That way, you don’t end up with condensation dripping down every window.
About humidity—yeah, sealing up everything can make it spike fast. But sometimes I think we overestimate how “sealed” these old houses get even with all the kits and caulk. I’ve never managed to get mine airtight enough for serious mold problems, though I do run a bathroom fan religiously in winter. Cheap hygrometer is a great tip; mine was $10 and it’s kind of fun (in a nerdy way) to check it after a shower or on laundry day.
One small thing I’d add: if you’re getting water pooling, check your storm windows too, if you have them. Sometimes they trap moisture between the panes if they’re not vented right. I had one that was basically acting like a mini greenhouse until I drilled a tiny drain hole at the bottom.
It’s always a balance—warmth, drafts, and not turning your house into a rainforest. Never thought I’d be worrying about humidity in January, but here we are...