The easy answer to a drafty or old window that no longer insulates well is to “cover it in plastic.” And that still is probably the best possible answer for most situations.
Most situations?
Yup. I said most situations for a reason. Here’s why. You need to know how the window is losing your home’s energy to effectively make the right repair choice.
For example, putting plastic over a window when its the outer frame that loses energy will do next to nothing except obscure your view of the outdoors.
Okay, so how can …

The most common complaint in the cold winter months about older doors is they are drafty, or don’t insulate well anymore.  In fact, a door is usually one of the first places you tend to notice energy issues. The reason is because it is opened and closed and used so often. Add to this the fact that they are heavy and held up by only a few screws and hinges around a frame, and the potential for problems increases with age.
What can go wrong?
Even newer doors can have energy gaffes. …

One of the most challenging problems for homeowners is with the placement of a heat register, radiator or other heat source under or near a window. The problem is compounded with every degree the temperature plummets outside.
Understanding the problem
To figure out how to fix the problems, we have to understand what is going on. Warmed air always rises (and conversely cold air falls). Since warmed air will always rise from the heat source it will gravitate upwards. Under most circumstances, when a heat register is on a wall, the warmed …

An energy audit is the single best way for you to realistically save money every month on all your energy bills. Energy efficiency experts and contractors and energy companies have known this for a long time. That is why they offer them, often at a premium price or bundled with another service or installation.
But the truth is an energy audit isn’t all that difficult. In fact, you can do a basic, rudimentary energy audit yourself right now. It only takes an hour or so, tops, to do a simple top …

This one puzzles the heck out of me.
We’ve talked about how a lot of heat escapes through the windows. Heat vents blow heat into a room. Why then, would anyone place a heat vent directly under a window?
Argh!
A lot of heat will be wasted, and the room will always feel colder than it should.
Luckily, there is a very easy solution.
Go to your local home improvement store (like a Lowe’s or Home Depot) and get a clear heat deflector. They run $5 – $15. These have little magnets on …

Am I really asking you to pick out and install some curtains?
There’s a very, very good reason, aside from being fashionable.
Which I’m not.
Curtains, especially the heavier fabric ones, are good insulators. They retain heat very well, and also block a lot of cold air.
Try this. If you have curtains, on a cold day, stand near the window with the curtains drawn. Now feel behind the drawn curtain, between the window and fabric. I guarantee it is much colder. The curtains are stopping the colder air from entering …

Unfortunately, there is some bad news that comes along with sealing windows, walls, and doors that may leak. That something is air pollution or contamination within the home. By sealing cracks, you’re saving heat but also giving pollutants less opportunity to escape your home. Carbon Monoxide, an odorless, colorless and very poisonous gas can also be trapped.
To reduce this risk, make sure you change the filter on your furnace often, preferably with a premium one that stops as much allergens and particles as possible. Be especially vigilant if …

Insulated foam tape is a nice alternative if you have a gap at the top of bottom of a sliding window. If you have a side sliding window, then the left and right of the window are well suited for foam tape.
The foam provides insulation or a buffer so cold air can not enter the house, or warm air can not escape.
If you choose to go this way, make sure you test the tape first. Sometimes it may leave a nasty residue. Also, a lot of times the …

If you don’t want to deal with caulk, or perhaps you’re uncomfortable with the installation, rope caulk may be for you.
Rope caulk is also an excellent choice for temporary uses or where gaps are very small and it may not be worth caulking.
In fact if you want to patch small gaps between the molding and wall, rope caulk would probably be the smarter choice than regular caulk. It’s extremely flexible and is much cleaner than regular caulk.
Additionally it is much easier to work with.
Here are the advantages of rope …

Caulking is a great, quick and efficient way of plugging holes around windows. In fact, if you buy the correct caulk for the situation it can plug up nearly anything!
Caulking is one of those repairs that will save you money year round, no matter what the season. It forms a nice, tight seal around problem areas and prevents air, warm or cold, within the house from escaping to the outdoors. So heated air stays in the house in winter, and cooler air is retained where it is …