How to Seal Your Drafty Windows for Less Than $50

An graphic of a window with whipped cream and cherry on top of it.

Sitting next to a drafty window is a uniquely miserable experience. Human skin is highly sensitive to the loss of heat, and few things are more effective at dropping your body temperature than a cold breeze.

Those drafts are caused by air gaps, which can lead to other problems in your home, too. They waste energy, and bugs and air pollution can sneak inside. And in some cases, air gaps can allow moisture to get into the frame, leading to rot and mold.

Your home probably leaks air in dozens of places, like exterior doors or gaps in the building’s framing (we cover the most likely culprits in another article, and Energy Star keeps an even longer list).

But if there’s one obvious place to start filling the gaps, it’s the interior side of your windows.

“Of all the leaks, those around windows are often the most noticeable because they are at a level where you feel them as you walk by,” said Amanda Hatherly, CEO of the Building Performance Institute. “So, sealing them will lead to greater comfort, even though they may not have the energy savings of sealing larger leaks.”

You should be able to seal off windows in several rooms in an afternoon, and you shouldn’t need more than $50 in tools and supplies to do it. You’ll feel the biggest benefit during winter, but air sealing really does make a difference all year. Even renters can do it.

Plus, any tools and experience you pick up along the way can be put to use on future caulking or air-sealing projects.

For novice DIYers, there are a couple of options for tackling this project: One requires a little more handiwork but will give you a good-looking result, and another is quicker yet uglier.



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