Are drafty windows and doors allowing air to escape your home? Letting warmed-up or cooled air escape pass through drafty windows and doors can be a big inconvenience, especially during the cold season.
Even with the heater on, your home can become freezing and uncomfortable if you don’t get those drafty windows fixed. It’ll also cost you money, as you might need more energy to keep the right temperature inside your house.
But before you start calling a professional, you might want to follow the simple tips you can do to fix your drafty windows and doors.
What You Will Need:
Rag with soap and water
Stiff brush or putty knife
Caulk adhesive
Weatherstrips
Glazzing putty
Step 1: Clean The Windows
Windows degrade with time, and even the best ones will require some maintenance in the years to come.
Start by cleaning the inside of the window frame. Wipe down the inside of the window frame with a damp rag that has been sprayed with some soap and water. Let the water dry.
Step 2: Caulking
Caulk is a waterproof sealant that you can use to seal joints or seams and comes in a disposable cartridge. It’s a quick and easy way to fill in any gaps between the sashes and the window frame.
Using a putty knife or stiff brush, remove old caulk and paint. Ensure the area is dry before applying the sealant.
Caulk all window frame joints including the frame to wall junction. Maintain a steady angle with the cartridge.
Step 3: Reglaze Window Panes
If your glazing putty seal is already cracked, it needs to be reglazed. You can easily do this after you have caulked your windows. You can remove the old putty by scraping it off.
Grab yourself a glazing putty and wear gloves. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, apply the new glaze slowly.
Step 4: Add Or Replace Weatherstripping
Experts advise that it’s best to use vinyl or silicone and avoid foam weather stripping. Vinyl or silicones are more durable and will last for longer years.
To remove old stripping, simply pull them off the window or door by hand. Make sure the surface is smooth, clean, and dry.
Measure correctly so you won’t make mistakes and waste any strips. If you’re using a vinyl or rubber type, use a shear or a utility knife to carefully cut the rubber and avoid bending the thin metal.
Begin with one small area and try to close and open the windows or door to check if it fits correctly.
And there you go! Replacing new windows or doors can be costly, so it may be better to try repair hacks first before calling in a professional.
Once you get a hang of doing home repairs, you might be surprised how easy it is to fix furniture like repairing a wobbly chair or table. You can even make your own like installing DIY floating shelves without brackets.
