How do I seal all my windows and doors ?

Sandra
by Sandra

Our windows and doors are old . We had planned to replace them this year but due to my illness as I am handicap we could not. The house has shifted as we did not get as much rain like the rest of IL. And when the wind blows you can feel the air blow into our house. We put blankets up at the doors to stop the wind as the doors you can see the gaps , and are planning to put the plastic on all windows but that does not work . Even caulking does not help much. We have put in new insulation in the attic. Now we do live by an open field which we do catch a lot of wind and run electric heaters so keep that in mind.

  5 answers
  • Pamela Pamela on Oct 16, 2018

    Call your local utilities dept. Ask if they have any weatherizing programs. A few years ago , they gave you free supplies, but that was in NJ. It can't hurt to ask. There used to be a product that used tape & clear plastic, you would put it around your window, then used a hair blower on it and it tightened it and made it draft free. For your door they make something that slides under your door. The center part is flat , that slides under the door , on either side is a round foam filled area that blocks drafts, you don't have to move it out of the way each time you open the door , like a draft sock. They cost $10-$15.

    • Sandra Sandra on Oct 16, 2018

      Right now in our area there is a long wait list for weatherizing as in our town is so small. And the city comes first. And we do use the tape and clear plastic every year. Believe me sometimes the winds in our area we get 60 mph winds. And it will knock it even off. We have stuffed everything we can to stop all drafts. Lol at times I think I will wake up and see a snowman one day. This is a country town and everyone who lives by the feild has the same problem.

      Thank you for your quick response.

      Sandra

  • Linda Linda on Oct 16, 2018

    Try insulated window treatments over your windows. Here is some at Target online to show you what I am writing about. https://rstyle.me/n/dacghhcc4s7

    • Sandra Sandra on Oct 16, 2018

      Yes I have nothing but heavy curtains like those they work perfectly during the summer time . But winter is another story. Just hoping next year we can get the new windows put in

      Or at least some.

      Thank you anyway

      Sandra

  • Sally Alter Sally Alter on Oct 16, 2018

    Hi San, I know about this problem and am going to really take steps to combat it this year. This article looks pretty good and is easy to follow:


    https://www.simplemost.com/diy-draft-proof-doors-windows-home/

    • Sandra Sandra on Oct 16, 2018

      We have done all of what they have said in the video this summer. Some of it did work. We even went as far as replaced the door frame but like I said the house shifted again.

      Thank you anyway.

      Sandra

  • Sally Alter Sally Alter on Oct 16, 2018

    Sandra, it looks like you have tried just about every cosmetic solution with no luck. As you say the problem lies with the shifting of the foundations and this is a very big problem indeed. (I wonder if you had an inspection done when you bought the house?) The cosmetics around the doors and windows are just symptoms of this bigger problem, and unless you do something radical and expensive, I fear the foundation of your house will always cause these problems. And probably get worse with time. The symptoms are just a smoke screen for something much more serious. This is obviously not a DIY problem and would need expert help from a professional company. Remember to check out references if you do decide to go this route. This article may give you some indications of what would be involved. I wish you good luck.


    https://www.myfoundationrepairs.com/foundation-shifting-moving/

    • Sandra Sandra on Oct 16, 2018

      That is what my husband and I was thinking about the foundation. But have not found any cracks. We had the basement sealed 7 years ago

  • Sharon Sharon on Oct 29, 2021

    Sounds like you might have air infiltration around the windows and doors themselves. Get a lit incense stick and hold it in front of the area around the door in front of the door trim. Lots of time, that area was not insulated, you can jimmy off the wood trim, and then either use the pink insulation cut into long strips and force it into the gap or use Door & Window foam caulking... then replace the trim. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T_vP2l8LOU&t=403s


    Then if the door jam itself has a gap around the door, I would buy some of this, works best on gaps and old doors.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDMZz4HIURw I got it at True Value hardware store.