When you’re ready to keep the cold air out and the warm air in, you can tackle the first step of weatherproofing without too much hassle.
Begin by cleaning your windows. Ideally, you will manage both sides of every window, but sometimes that is just not possible in winter weather. While you’re cleaning them, check every window to ensure the caulking is in good condition. If not, remove the old and apply new caulking.
The U.S. Department of Energy offers handy advice on how to do this. You’ll find it online at energy.gov/energy saver/weatherize/air-sealing-your-home. Scroll down the page and click on “Caulking.” Wooden frames or broken panes that require replacing may need to wait until spring as this can be a bigger job.
Gather Your Supplies
Once the windows in your home are clean, it’s time to take them to the next, energy-efficient level with weather stripping and window insulation film. If you don’t have these items on hand, you’ll find them at the large home improvement stores and at hardware stores.
Look for self-adhesive weather stripping as this will save a lot of time and energy. Follow the package instructions and check out the weather stripping guide at lowes.com/n/how-to/weather-strip-windows
Once all your windows have this protection, you may just want to take it to the next level with window insulation film. This is applied directly to windows. Again, check your local hardware or home improvement store to purchase.
Although it sounds like weatherproofing your windows will take the better part of a weekend, it’s actually a quick job that you can get done in an hour or two, depending on the number of windows in your home.
The best news is, once you’re finished, you can expect your home to remain warm and snug for the rest of the winter.
