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Window Insulation Kits That Actually Fixed My Freezing Apartment and Cut My Heat Bill
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items Cold air was pouring through every window in my 1970s apartment. I could literally feel the draft from across the room, and my heating bill hit $280 in January. After sealing up every window with the right insulation products, my bill dropped by almo...
Sections
5
Window Shrink Film Kits That Do the Heavy Lifting
Weatherstripping and Foam Tape for Drafty Frames
Draft Stoppers for the Gaps Underneath
Caulk and Sealant for Permanent Cracks
Thermal Curtains to Stack On Top of Everything Else
Window Shrink Film Kits That Do the Heavy Lifting
Started here because these cover the most surface area for the least effort. One weekend of work sealed up nine windows and the difference was noticeable by that same night.
Grab this one first. My bedroom window had a visible gap at the bottom and I could feel cold air on my ankles from five feet away. After applying this, I put my hand right up to the glass and nothing. The hair dryer shrink step takes maybe two minute...
3M Indoor Oversized Window Insulator Kit, 1 Kit
Use this if you've got a lot of windows to cover on a budget. I did my whole living room and kitchen with one box. The film is thinner than the 3M but honestly for standard-sized windows it works just as well. Perfect for renters who need to cover a ...
Duck Brand Window Insulation Film Kit, 62 in. x 420 in.
Picked this up for the oddly shaped windows in my hallway. The film sheets are oversized so you can trim to fit, which saved me when nothing else was the right dimension. If your apartment has those weird narrow windows from the 70s, start here.
Frost King V73/3H 42" x 62" Clear Indoor Shrink Window
Toss this over your sliding glass door if you have one. Mine was basically a wall of cold air every evening. The kit is sized for large openings and the double-sided tape holds surprisingly well on metal frames. Took me about 20 minutes and my living...
3M Indoor Patio Door Window Insulator Kit, Fits 6'8" x 9'
Weatherstripping and Foam Tape for Drafty Frames
Film handles the glass, but the frames were still leaking like crazy. I stuck my hand along every edge and found gaps I never noticed. These sealed them up.
Stick this along the bottom of windows that rattle when the wind blows. My kitchen window was the worst offender and this killed the draft completely. It compresses when you close the window so it doesn't mess with the lock. For anyone in a windy are...
Duck® Brand Heavy-Duty Weatherstrip Seal
Keep a roll of this in your junk drawer all winter. I found new drafts in December that I missed in October, and being able to just peel and stick a strip right then saved me. Works great on casement windows where the seal has gone flat over the year...
Thermwell Products 530469 Rubber Frost King Foam Tape
Try this on double-hung windows where the top and bottom sashes meet. That center rail was letting in so much cold air I thought the window was cracked. Two strips of this foam and the problem disappeared. Cheap enough to redo every season without th...
M-D Building Products M-D Open-Cell Foam Weatherstrip
Pair this with the shrink film for a double layer of protection. I used it around my bathroom window frame where moisture kept loosening other tapes. The rubber version grips better in humid spots. If your bathroom feels ten degrees colder than the r...
Duck Brand Rubber Seal, White, .38in x .25in x 17ft
Draft Stoppers for the Gaps Underneath
Sealed the glass, sealed the frames, and cold air was STILL sneaking in at the bottom of two windows. Turns out the sill had warped over the years. These plugged what was left.
Slide this under the gap between your window sill and the frame if there's any warping. I originally bought it for my front door but realized it worked perfectly wedged against the window base. For anyone whose sill has a visible gap when you look at...
Holikme Twin Door Draft Stopper Weather Stripping Noise
Bring this out for the front door while you're at it. Half my heat was escaping under the door and I didn't even realize until I held a candle near the bottom and watched the flame go sideways. Adhesive backing stays put even on textured surfaces.
Suptikes Door Draft Stopper Under Door Sweep
Swap this in if foam draft stoppers keep falling off your door. The silicone is flexible enough to compress but rigid enough to stay in place. I went through three foam ones before switching and this has lasted two full winters. Worth it if you're ti...
MAGZO T-Shaped Silicone Weather Stripping Door Seal
Toss this at the base of your bedroom door if you keep certain rooms cooler to save money. Keeps the warm air where you actually are instead of heating the whole apartment evenly. My bedroom stayed noticeably warmer overnight once I blocked that two-...
BNNG Door Draft Stopper, Adjustable Weather Stripping
Caulk and Sealant for Permanent Cracks
Found hairline cracks around three window frames that no tape or film could fix. These filled them in and stopped cold air at the source. Even renters can use the removable options without losing a deposit.
Get this if you're renting. It seals cracks around the window frame like regular caulk but peels off clean in the spring. I used it on every window in my apartment and my landlord never noticed. When lease inspection came around, I peeled it all off ...
Dap 18354 Seal 'N Peel Removable Caulk, 10.1-Ounce
Use this for cracks you never want to deal with again. Homeowners, this one's for you. I filled a gap between my window frame and the exterior wall that had been there for years. One tube covered six windows and it's still holding strong after two wi...
GE Silicone II Window & Door Sealant, Black, 10.1 oz Tube
Spray this into larger gaps around window frames where caulk won't reach. My basement windows had half-inch gaps behind the trim and this expanded right into them. Wear gloves though. I learned the hard way that this stuff bonds to skin and doesn't c...
Loctite, Insulating Foam Sealant, 12 oz, White
Keep this around for quick fixes when you notice a new draft mid-winter. The squeeze tube means no caulk gun needed, which is perfect if you don't own one and don't want to buy a tool for one job. Peels off clean when you move out. Renter-friendly th...
Customer reviews for Red Devil 078060 StormGuard 920
Thermal Curtains to Stack On Top of Everything Else
After all the sealing was done, I added curtains as one more barrier. The temperature difference near my windows went from painful to barely noticeable. Think of these as the final layer.
Hang these over your sealed windows and the combo is ridiculous. My living room window used to radiate cold even after I filmed it. Added these curtains and now I can sit on the couch right next to the window without a blanket. They block light too, ...
NICETOWN, Blackout Curtains, Thermal Insulated
Snag these if you want the thermal benefit without spending $40 per panel. I put them in my guest room and they work nearly as well as the pricier ones. The fabric is thinner but still blocks enough cold air to make a difference. Good starter option ...
DWCN, Blackout Curtains, Thermal Insulated, 42 x 63
Try these in a kid's room or bedroom where you want warmth plus darkness. My toddler's room faced north and was always the coldest in the apartment. Between the window film and these curtains, the room holds heat so much better now. She actually slee...
BGment Printed Blackout Curtains for Bedroom with Birds
Pair these with the shrink film for your biggest, draftiest window. I used them on my 6-foot living room window and the fabric is heavy enough to actually stay flat against the wall instead of billowing when the heater kicks on. Stock up before Novem...
Deconovo Navy Blue 52x54 inch Blackout Curtains Rod