Best Tips for How to Weatherproof Windows for Winter

When winter is coming, a drafty house can get very cold. Luckily, there are a number of things you can do to weatherproof windows and save lots of money on the heating bill, in addition to being a greener and more energy efficient household.

How to Weatherproof Windows: Plastic and a Hairdryer

The simplest and least expensive way to weatherproof your windows for winter is to buy a roll of clear plastic at any home improvement store, along with some tape that won't damage your walls around the windows. These materials should cost no more than $30 for an average sized house.

Then cut plastic to a little bigger than the windows, tape it around them, and use your hair dryer to heat the plastic and shrink it to fit tightly in the window. It won't be the prettiest thing ever, but you can still see out, and it keeps drafts from getting in. You also won't be able to open your windows, although in the middle of winter, that is not a very desirable action anyway.

How to Weatherproof Windows: Heavy Drapes or Curtains

Your window treatments can go a long way in weatherproofing your windows for winter if you invest a little in heavier curtains. You can either add a layer of insulation to your existing curtains, or buy new curtains that are thicker or insulated.

If you are on a budget and have extra blankets around your house, these can work really well as makeshift drapes during the winter. Sewing a few loops onto the top will allow you to hang them over your drafty windows and keep a lot of the cold out of your house.

How to Weatherproof Windows: Weatherstripping

Another tip is to purchase weatherstripping and install it in your windows. It helps to create more airtight seals around the windows and keep the cold air out. It can be a little more expensive and time consuming than the above options, but it will probably also do a better job and look a lot nicer. Weatherstripping your windows is a great investment for homeowners, but renters whose landlords won't pay for weatherstripping should probably go with one of the above options instead.

To install weatherstripping, you will need to follow the instructions on the product you purchased. It also works differently on different types of windows. However, most of them operate under the basic premise that you want the weatherstripping to be all the way around the edges of your windows.