Your home should provide shelter from winter weather. But that’s not the case if you have windows with cracks and gaps. Here are three steps to prevent drafty windows so you can stay comfortable as temperatures dip.

1. Repair Any Damage
Before you can prevent drafty windows, you need to repair the window frames. Inspect the wood casements for rot and then fix it.
Take a flat bar, a hammer and a chisel and score around wood pieces that are damaged. Not all of the wood will be bad, so gather the pieces that are bad and remove them.
You donāt need wood to fill the hole; use cellular PVC or composite material, both of which are available at your home center. Best of all, theyāre low-maintenance options that youāll probably never have to replace.
Next, nail the replacement piece in place, glue it, caulk it and repaint it. Your home will be secure from potential water damage and youāre one step closer to preventing drafts.

2. Caulk Around the Trim
You can count on one side-effect from the drastic change in temperatures: building materials will expand or contract. This, along with shifting soil and foundation settlement, leads to unsightly cracks and gaps.
Think about where window casements and door frames meet siding. These joints may have once looked seamless, but now, you can spot some separation.
These gaps let air and water into the home, which strains your heating system and results in mold and mildew. Thatās why itās important to routinely caulk as the seasons change.
Hereās how to caulk building joints to help prevent drafty windows:
⢠Cut out any old caulk in the joint with a putty knife. Then, go ahead and remove any dirt, debris and residue.
⢠Press the release trigger on the back of the caulking gun to loosen the steel rod. Then load up some sealant.
⢠Cut the caulkās nozzle, or tip, at a 45-degree angle. This ensures the line, or ābead,ā will be smooth, because you will apply the sealant at an angle.
⢠Press the trigger and slowly seal around windows, doors and trim. Move at a slow, steady pace; otherwise, the bead will be narrow and even. Use backer rod if the jointās depth exceeds a quarter-inch, then apply the sealant over the backer rod.
⢠Finally, smooth the bead immediately after application ā all you need is your finger.

3. Install Window Insulation
Weāve prepped the exterior surfaces, so now letās move indoors and take the final step to prevent drafty windows: install The Duck Brandās Heavy Duty Max Strength Window Kit.
Itās twice as thick as other window insulation kits, so itās ideal for homes with heavy traffic and pets. And itās crystal clear, so you wonāt have to sacrifice your view for comfort (and lower heating bills)!
Anybody can tackle this project ā you just need a hairdryer and some scissors. Best of all, these kits are affordable and widely available. You can usually find them at your local home center and online.
First, clean the window frame and remove any excess dust. Then, tape the top edge of the film to the window frame and roll it down.
Next, cut the film to size and apply tape to the sides and bottom of the window.

After that, unroll the film and press it firmly onto the tape. Then run a hairdryer over the window film to shrink it and remove any wrinkles. Use the scissors to cut off any excess film.
Finally, make sure thereās a tight fit between your window and the shrink film. If you need to, run the hairdryer over the window film again.
Thatās all there is to it!
Learn more about The Duck Brandās home weatherization solutions>>
Remember to wet your finger before running it over the caulk. I like to keep wet wipes with me to remove excess caulk from my finger. Also take along a trash bag with you to dispose of the wet wipes with caulk on them. I reuse the store bags for this job.
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I want to use the Window Insulation on 2 North facing windows. But I hesitate, as the window is surrounded by/finished with wallboard on the sides & top…..only the base has a wood saddle. (is that the correct name for the wood base?). Can Window Insulation be used with wallboard? Some kits state that it should only be attached to wood.
Hi, E.!
Weāre always looking for homeowners to call into our radio show and ask questions directly to Danny and Joe.
Weāve reviewed your question and shared it with our radio producer, Marc, for consideration.
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