Solutions for drafty windows

An old, drafty window can be a money pit. Save money and stay cozy year-round: make sure your older windows are weather-proof—and new windows are installed properly—with these expert tips.

• Purchasing replacement windows for your home may not be the money-saving venture that you may think.
• Some companies claim a 35 percent reduction in energy bills. In most houses windows account for less than 15 percent of the total heat loss, so you would save at most 15 percent. And when you consider that replacement windows typically cost more than $500 per window ($6,000 to $30,000 per home), the savings just don't add up.
• It would take years to recoup the cost of the windows through energy savings. New windows may look better, but other upgrades are more cost efficient.
• For instance, make your current windows weather tight. Not only will filling gaps stop drafts, making you feel warmer in the winter—it also means your furnace or boiler does not have to work as hard to keep your house warm—and your air conditioning doesn't have to work as hard to keep it cool.

• Caulking: If your windows are a little drafty, easy-to-apply and inexpensive caulk can effectively plug gaps around window frames and sills.
• Weatherstripping: The quality and thickness of foam weatherstripping varies. Attach it below the bottom sash, between two sashes and other places to stop icy wind tunnels.
• Storm window alternatives: Storm windows aren't that much less expensive than replacement windows (and sometimes they still let in drafts). The least expensive storm-window alternative is the plastic film that seals with a hair dryer. The drawbacks? You can't open a window if you need to and you have to reapply them each winter. But the energy savings just may be worth the inconvenience. Another alternative is window glass film, applied directly to the glass. In the summer, it reduces solar heat and in the winter it preserves indoor heat.