How to Fix Drafty Windows Before Winter in Texas

WatchStorm Damage? G3 Roofing & Construction Is Your Best Choice

North Texas winters are mostly mild, right up until they aren't. One week it's shorts weather, and the next a cold front blows in and you're wondering why the curtains are moving on their own.

No, your house isn't haunted. You've got a drafty window. Here's how to hunt it down and fix it before the next freeze.

How Do I Find the Draft?

Time to play detective. Pick a cold, windy day, and try a few of these:

1. The hand test. Run your hand slowly around the edges of the window, the sash and the frame. Cold air moving means you found one.
2. The incense trick. Light a stick of incense and hold it near the edges of the window, carefully, away from curtains. If the smoke wavers or blows sideways, there's air moving. Please don't use a candle near your curtains. We rebuild after fires; we'd rather not meet you that way.
3. The paper test. Close the window on a sheet of paper. If it slides out easily, the seal isn't tight.
4. The flashlight test. At night, have someone shine a flashlight around the window from outside while you look from inside. Light coming through means air can too.
5. Look. Cracked caulk, gaps, missing weatherstripping and daylight around the frame are all giveaways.

What Are the Usual Culprits?

• Cracked or missing caulk around the outside and inside trim
• Worn weatherstripping on the sashes
• Windows that don't close or lock all the way
• Gaps between the frame and the wall behind the trim
• Warped or damaged frames
• Old single-pane glass, which is less about air leaks and more about cold glass

How Do I Caulk a Window?

1. Pick the right caulk. Exterior-rated caulk for the outside, paintable caulk for interior trim.
2. Pull out the old cracked caulk with a scraper or utility knife.
3. Clean and dry the surface.
4. Run a steady bead along the joint.
5. Smooth it with a wet finger or a caulking tool.
6. Let it cure according to the directions before painting.

Caulk the joint between the window frame and the trim or brick, not the moving parts of the window. If you caulk the sash shut, you can't open it in an emergency.

How Do I Replace Weatherstripping?

Weatherstripping seals the moving parts of the window. If it's flattened, cracked or missing, replace it. Hardware stores carry foam tape, V-strip and other types. Match what's there if you can. Clean the surface first so it sticks.

What Are Some Quick Temporary Fixes?

• Window insulation film kits that shrink tight with a hair dryer
• Heavy curtains, especially at night
• Draft snakes along sills
• Removable rope caulk for windows you won't open until spring

They're not pretty, but they work in a pinch.

When Is It More Than a DIY Fix?

If you've caulked and weatherstripped and you've still got a breeze, or you see any of these, it's time to call somebody:

• Frames that are cracked, warped or rotted
• Windows that won't close or lock
• Fog between the panes
• Water stains or soft drywall around the window
• Old single-pane windows throughout the house

Those can point to bigger problems. See our guide on signs you need new windows.

Does Fixing Drafts Help With Frozen Pipes?

It can help keep the house warmer, especially on exterior walls where plumbing runs. Our CMDR team has a whole guide on preventing frozen pipes in North Texas you should read before the next hard freeze.

What Does G3 Do?

We look at the window, the frame and the wall around it, and we'll tell you whether a repair will do or whether replacement makes more sense, with no high-pressure sales pitch. We can talk about glass, screens, frames and full replacement. See our windows and exteriors page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still feeling a breeze? Call (945) 300-9018 or use the button below to get a window quote.

Keep learning: see our Windows & Exteriors page, read Foggy Windows: What a Broken Seal Means.