How to Weatherproof Windows

Knowing how to weatherproof your windows can save you a lot of money and keep your house comfortable. Energy bills can be high, so not letting the heat escape from your windows is important. Learning how to weatherproof windows is easy. Each window only takes a few minutes and you’ll feel the comfort and financial returns all through winter.

Step 1 - Prepare Your Windows

Before you start to weatherproof, clean your windows thoroughly, both inside and out. Inspect the frames and repair any putty that has fallen out or has become chipped. Also, inspect the wooden frames and if there are signs of rot, replace them before the weather turns bad.

If there are cracks in the glass, replace the entire pane. You need to do this for every window in your house. Although this can take time, it’s an excellent maintenance procedure that can save you large sums of money later.

Step 2 - Weatherstripping

The first big step in knowing how to weatherproof your windows is to use weatherstripping on them. Buy weatherstripping that is self-adhesive for easy installation. You will need to fit weatherstripping around the window seams to stop any cold air coming in. This will also stop the warm air from going out of your home.

Adding weatherstripping means you won’t be able to open your windows but it's unlikely you will be doing that until spring anyway. Go around the entire house and put weather stripping on every window, even in the basement.

You should also buy door weatherstripping and apply it for a comprehensive job. A great deal of heat can be lost where the doors meet the door frames. As good as weatherstripping is, it can only do a limited job. If you don’t have double pane windows, you’ll need to do more to weatherproof your window properly.

Step 3 - Windows

Go to the hardware store and buy special weatherproofing window plastic. When properly installed on a window, it acts like another pane of glass, keeping the heat in and your family much cozier.

Cut a piece of plastic a little larger than the window and tape it to the frame. Plug in a hair dryer, turn it on to a high setting and run the hot air against the plastic. The window plastic will shrink until it’s taut. Make sure it’s tightly gripped, all over the window, and that the tape is firm against the frame. This will help keep warm air in the house. Repeat this for every window in the house. If you have a large window in your front or back door, you should apply window plastic there as well.

This is a process you will need to repeat every winter. You shouldn’t attempt to re-use your weatherstriping or window plastic; throw them away every spring when you unseal the house. This means you need to spend money every fall but this will be more than offset by the amount you’ll save on heating bills.