Cold winter air creeping through drafty windows and doors makes your home less cozy and causes energy bills to spike. Fortunately, there are some quick and cheap fixes you can try.
For instance, a nifty foam tape can seal up problem areas around your doors while evening out the floor can resolve an uneven threshold. But to really tackle a draft, you need a long-term solution.
1. Seal Up the Gaps
When the wind blows, it creates a pressure difference between your home and the outside air. This can cause a draft that pulls warm air out of your home while pushing cold air in through cracks and gaps around doors, windows, and other openings. These areas that allow cold air to sneak into your home are called air leaks. If you don’t seal these holes, your heating and cooling system will have to work harder to keep your house warm and comfortable.
One quick and easy way to reduce drafts is to fill the gaps in your home with foam. You can purchase a roll of gap filler such as this black rubber foam tape from Amazon to plug up the holes where drafts are occurring. This inexpensive solution will reduce your energy costs by preventing your furnace and AC from working overtime.
Another easy way to eliminate drafts is to replace the caulk around your doors and windows. It wears out over time, and this can let cold air in while letting warm air escape. Caulking is an inexpensive fix, and you can do it yourself with a simple caulking gun. Additionally, installing a door snake or hanging heavy curtains can also help to reduce drafts around your doors and windows. For a more permanent solution, you can install weatherstripping or even replace your doors.
2. Replace the Caulk
When the temperatures drop, homeowners often feel drafts creeping through windows and doors. These drafts allow heated indoor air to escape, increasing heating costs to offset the lost heat. These problems can be caused by a number of issues, but the most common culprit is a lack of caulking or weatherstripping.
While new homes are usually well-sealed, older houses may have cracks and gaps that can lead to drafts. It’s important to look for these areas and re-caulk them with a long-lasting caulking, such as GE Silicone 2+, that is made specifically for outdoor use.
Before you begin sealing up the gaps, clean up the area and remove any old caulking. Then, carefully measure and mark the length of the gap. After removing the old caulking, apply a fresh layer to prevent the drafts from returning.
You can also use a foam rope, such as backer rod, to fill in larger gaps. This can be purchased at many home improvement retailers, or you can make it yourself. Pool noodles, which aren’t used much during the summertime, can be cut in half and inserted into small gaps around doors and windows. This inexpensive DIY solution will keep drafts out of your house this winter and save you money on your energy bills. The best part is that these easy fixes will leave your windows and doors operational so that you can enjoy the great outdoors when the temperature warms up again.
3. Install a Door Snake
A draft in your door can be caused by a number of things. The most common reason is that the seal between the door and the frame is worn down or missing entirely. Another reason is that your door itself isn’t energy efficient. Wood doors, for example, aren’t foam insulated, and they can warp or rot over time. This can leave a gap that lets cold air in and warm air out.
A door snake is a simple solution that can stop cold air from entering your home. They’re basically just tubes of fabric filled with something that adds weight (like rice, beans, river sand, or kitty litter). The idea is to place the tube in front of the gap, blocking the cold air from blowing into your home. These can be bought at most home improvement stores, or you can make your own draft stopper with a little scrap fabric and some basic sewing skills.
A draft snake can be a great short-term solution, but it won’t solve the real problem. To make sure your home is properly insulated, you need to invest in strategic insulation and air sealing upgrades. This will prevent air leaks, bring that giant vacuum to a halt, and keep your house comfortable all winter long. Fortunately, this is a very affordable project that you can do yourself without professional help.
4. Insulate the Windows
If you’re tired of rattling windows and sky-high heating bills, it’s time to make some upgrades. Fortunately, there are many easy ways to fix drafty doors and windows that can help you feel cozy this winter and save money on energy costs.
You can find drafty spots by walking around your home and looking for gaps or open seams along the floorboards, windows, doors, and fixtures. You can also use a candle or stick of incense and move it around to see where the flame bends or smoke blows—these are areas where air is escaping your house and causing a draft. Once you know where the draft is coming from, apply caulk or a non-damaging window covering like heavy curtains to stop it.
One DIY solution is to cover your windows with plastic bubble wrap, which works by trapping air for insulation while still allowing light through. You can find self-adhesive plastic wrap at most hardware stores or use heavier-duty packing tape to make a custom seal on your windows. This isn’t a long-term solution since the plastic will melt with sun exposure, but it’s a good way to insulate your windows until you can replace them or get a professional to do so. For a more permanent solution, consider switching to energy-efficient double- or triple-pane windows.