How To Winterize Your Windows

With winter simply around the corner, now'south the time to seal up drafty windows to foreclose cold winds from blowing into your home. Weather-tight windows volition not simply make your dwelling experience more comfortable, but also they'll save you lot money each month past reducing energy consumption, resulting in lower heating bills.

And while there are several ways to seal any drafty windows in your dwelling house, the all-time approach requires a two-pronged attack: caulking around the outside of the window and weather stripping the inside. Here'southward a guide on how to blast this process.

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Caulking

Begin by scraping off whatsoever quondam caulk or peeling paint from around the exterior perimeter of the window. You could utilise a regular metal putty knife to scrape the surface clean, but a much better pick is a six-in-1 painter's tool. This specialty tool has stiff, askew scraping bract and pointed tip that's swell for raking hardened caulk out of narrow cracks and crevices. And if the askew cease becomes deadening or damaged, yous can always sharpen it with a bench grinder.

Once you've removed all the onetime caulk and peeling paint, clean away all dirt and dust using a scrub brush dipped in warm, soapy water. Then, wipe the surface dry out with an quondam towel. Adjacent, utilize a fresh bead of caulk around the outside perimeter of the window, creating a continuous current of air-blocking seal between the window frame and siding, or between the window frame and outside trim boards. And exist sure to use an exterior-grade caulk. I recommend either 100% silicone sealant or a "siliconized" acrylic caulk. Both adhere well and will remain flexible for years. Note, withal, that 100% silicone must be cleaned upwards with mineral spirits; siliconized caulk can be cleaned with water.

Weather Stripping

Later on caulking around the exterior of the window, move within and use weather stripping to seal around the sash. (The sashes are the movable parts of a window that open and close.) In that location are dozens of different styles of weather stripping bachelor for sealing windows, just these are top five types:

Adhesive-backed foam: This is a compression type of atmospheric condition stripping, meaning that when the window closes against information technology, the foam compresses to seal gaps and block drafts. It features easy peel-and-stick application and cuts with pair of scissors. Merely be sure to thoroughly make clean the area effectually the within of the window, as the adhesive won't stick to dusty, dirty surfaces. On double-hung windows, apply adhesive-backed cream weather stripping to the lesser edge of the lower sash, and to the elevation edge of the upper sash. If yous don't want to utilize the weather stripping to the sash, stick it to the sill directly below the lower sash, and to the head jamb to a higher place the upper sash. Either mode, in one case the sash is airtight and locked, the foam will seal out drafts. On sliding or casement windows, utilize the agglutinative-backed foam to the vertical edge of the sash or vertically forth the side jamb.

Tubular rubber-gasket weather stripping: This is like to adhesive-backed foam, except that it'south formed into a hollow rubber tube instead of dumbo foam. When compressed past the sash, the tubular conditions stripping conforms to the space, effectively sealing out drafts. Some tubular gaskets have skin-and-stick adhesive bankroll, while others have an attached metal or wood flange that must be secured with nails or screws. As well wait for cream-filled tubular gaskets that have a spongy-foam core, which holds its shape better than the hollow-core gaskets.

Bound V-Seal: This is a resilient polypropylene plastic or metal strip that comes folded into a V-shape. It'south known as tension-seal weather stripping considering the V-shape springs open, creating tension betwixt the sash and window frame that blocks the passage of air. Plastic 5-seal can exist cut with scissors, only you'll need aviation snips to cut metallic 5-seal, which comes in copper, aluminum, bronze, and stainless steel. Likewise, the plastic type often has a peel-and-stick backing, while metal V-seal must be nailed in identify. V-seal tin can exist installed vertically along the sides of double-hung windows, and at the horizontal meeting rails where the 2 sashes meet when closed. On casement or sliding windows, V-seal is installed forth the vertical side jamb where the sash closes.

Felt: Felt is one of the oldest types of weather stripping. It's normally sold in rolls with or without an agglutinative bankroll and is likewise available with an attached metal mounting flange. Felt is used equally a pinch conditions stripping around the inside of double-hung, casement, and sliding windows. Felt is affordable and easy to install, but information technology doesn't last as long as other types of weather stripping and must be replaced every four to six years.

Window insulation kits: These kits block common cold air past sealing the entire window behind a large sheet of shrink-wrap plastic. The plastic adheres to the interior window casing with double-sided record; you then use a accident dryer to seal it in place. Window insulation kits are very effective at sealing out drafts, but continue in mind that you lot won't be able to open the window until adjacent spring, when y'all skin off the plastic wrap.

Here'due south i final tip for sealing drafty double-hung windows. About of them accept a single sash lock installed at the horizontal meeting rails where the upper and lower sash meet. To ensure that the 2 sashes fit tightly together, add a second sash lock: Unscrew the existing sash lock and reinstall information technology about 1-third of the manner in from the side jamb. For example, if the window is 24 inches broad, move the sash lock from the heart of the sash to almost viii inches from the end. Next, buy a 2nd sash lock and install it viii inches in from the reverse side jamb. Now, when yous appoint both locks, the sashes volition fit together tightly.

Joseph Truini Joe is a old carpenter and cabinetmaker who writes extensively well-nigh remodeling, woodworking, and tool techniques.