Drafty windows, a major cause of cold-air infiltration and discomfort in older homes, can be easily and inexpensively fixed with temporary inside storm windows made of sheet plastic.
The inside storms, which cost only a few dollars each for typical windows, are sold in the weatherstripping or insulation departments of home centers and hardware stores.
Some inside storms are available in kits such as 3M’s Indoor Window Insulator Kit and Frost King’s inside-storm kits. Basic kits generally contain materials for treating two or three windows and cost less than $8.
In addition to sheets of plastic measuring 42 by 62 inches, the kits include a roll of double-faced tape, which has adhesive on both sides and is used to fasten the plastic to the interior window frame. The tape will adhere to painted or varnished wood, aluminum or vinyl-clad frames.
Homeowners have been taping or stapling plastic over windows to stop drafts for many years, but the materials and techniques recommended by 3M and Frost King give better appearance and performance.
The plastic is stretched tightly over the window with heat from a gun-type hair dryer. The shrinking removes wrinkles and leaves a taut surface that is very transparent.
To install a plastic storm, start by removing drapes, curtains or other obstructions from the window.
Fasten tape around the perimeter of the window frame. The tape can be applied either to the face or outside edges of the frame. When the tape is in place, peel the protective paper from the tape’s outer adhesive surface.
Cut a plastic sheet with scissors so it is two inches larger on all sides than the window frame. Press the plastic sheet against the tape on the top window frame and pull the sheet downward until it is taut, then fasten the plastic to the tape on the bottom window frame. Stretch the plastic sheet sideways and press it against the side tapes.
The plastic can be removed and repositioned if there are large wrinkles.
Once you have achieved a good fit, use fingertip pressure to strengthen the bond between plastic sheet and tape.
Plug in a gun-type hair dryer and set it at maximum heat, then hold the dryer nozzle about an inch from the plastic and wave it back and forth over the plastic surface. The heat will shrink the plastic and eliminate wrinkles. Do not let the dryer touch the plastic.
Trim excess plastic from the edges of the window with scissors or a razor blade.
Shrink-fit plastic storms are sold in several sizes besides the basic kits described above. Large sheets of plastic are available that can be cut to treat five or six typical windows, and a sheet 84 inches by 112 inches is sized to fit patio doors.
Shrink-fit storms perform well but have several disadvantages. They can be used for only one season. They cannot be temporarily removed for ventilating during periods of warm winter weather. If paint on a window frame has poor adhesion, the tape can pull paint off when the tape is removed.
And although the plastic can be stripped off a window is seconds, it makes a barrier if the window must be opened for quick exit during a fire or other emergency. For safety, I recommend that at least one window in every room be left uncovered.
Another source of drafts in many homes are electrical outlets and switches on exterior walls. Special foam insulating pads, precut to fit under the covers of outlet and switch boxes, can stop these drafts. A package of six pads costs about $1. Follow instructions on the package to install the pads.
