How do I fix old, cold windows?

We up north tend to use window shrink film to keep out drafts. You can order on Amazon if they are not available locally. I lived in a house built in 1934 and this treatment, though temporary, was a money saver. It goes on with double sided tape first, then you apply the plastic. Then you shrink the plastic with a hair dryer. I also got some clear calk and went around the window frame’s outer edge. Insulate your outlets to save money, also.

The 3M window covering systems are a cheap way to keep the cold out that seeps in from the windows. You put up the double sided tape, put up the plastic and secure it to the tape and use a blow dryer to shrink it. It acts like you have another window in front of the existing one. Once it is shrunk, you trim the excess and it is hardly noticeable. I suggest the 3M brand because it is thicker plastic and much easier to work with than the Duck brand. I have used both and will not use the Duck brand again, it may be cheaper, but it took twice as long to do the job right and avoid rips and getting it to stick right. You could also get the insulated drapes to use in the winter, even Walmart carries them.

Hi Janice,

Use Polystyrene boards up at the windows or thermal Blinds. or maybe Blankets.

Shrink window film will work the best for you! And...I will trade your Florida cold for Minnesota cold!

I caulked mine inside & out before I had them replaced!!

Another inexpensive way us bubble wrap. We purchased a roll at WalMart, did all our windows, just cut to the widow size, spray your windows with a light mist of water or spray starch, we used water, place the bubble on the window pat lightly. We leave it up all year, keeps cold out and the summer s100% heat from coming through. The ice thing is you can take it down any time and reuse.

Every once in awhile at corner will start to peel away just respray with water pat back into place.

CLEAR CAULK around all the edges & sills of your windows. Place cling wrap over the glass. Your glass breathes so putting the cling wrap on the inside, the glass can only breath from the outside & won't let the draft thru the glass. The cling wrap is clear so you can still see in & out of it but the air won't get through. Hope this helps.

If the cold is only occasional and you don't want to do the shrink plastic (which is the best semi-permanent solution), you could hang quilts in front of the windows on cold days. Just stitch a hanging sleeve onto the back of the quilt then hang it as if it were a curtain. Or, if you already have good solid rods above those windows, you could just drape the quilts over the rods. It works like a layer of insulation. You might even want to try hanging a quilt on whatever wall faces the direction the wind blows - like they used to hang tapestries in castles.

Of course, it doesn't have to be a quilt. It could be a blanket or comforter. I am from a family with a plethora of quilts....most of them older than I am.

Hi Janice,

First start by determining which windows have leaks around the frames. Do this with a set of fire place matches. Simply light the match, let it burn a few seconds them blow out. Hold match and slowly go around the window. The smoke will be drawn to the area of draft if present. You can use a candle also.

After determining draft locations, caulk.

Since Florida doesn't get too cold I would not wrap the windows in plastic. But I would pick up THERMAL LINED DRAPES. You have to make sure it says THERMAL on the drapery packaging. You can find them at most home goods retailers, Target, Ross or Marshall's. These drapes will help to keep house warm when drawn yet Allow you to open for sunshine.

We hung thermal drapes from Walmart over our cold patio doors, keeps the cold out in winter and heat out in summer.