The Weekend Guide to Air-Sealing Drafty Windows and Doors
Before spending thousands on high-end replacement windows, address the hidden gaps where conditioned air quietly slips outside.
Locating the Hidden Thermal Leaks
On a windy day, light an incense stick or hold a thin strip of tissue along window trim, baseboards, and electrical outlets on exterior walls. Flickering smoke pinpoints the invisible draft corridors.
High-Density Foam vs. Silicone Weatherstripping
Self-adhesive closed-cell foam is cheap and easy, but silicone tubular gasket strips last up to ten years without tearing or flattening under repeated door slams.
Sealing the Window Frame Casing
Often the leak is not the window sash itself, but the unfinished gap between the wooden rough framing and the drywall. A clean bead of paintable acrylic latex caulk along the interior trim stops infiltration instantly.
Air sealing typically cuts heating and cooling loads by 12% to 15% with less than fifty dollars in basic hardware materials.
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