My attempt to fix a drafty window took five years and 4 different caulk brands

I moved into this old house in Minneapolis back in 2019 and the living room window let in cold air like crazy. Every winter I'd try a different caulk or weatherstrip and it'd fail by February. Turns out the window frame itself was warped and I had to replace the whole sash. It took me 5 years to finally just do that and now my heating bill dropped $30 a month. Has anyone else put off a simple fix for way too long?

3 comments

3 Comments

corablack1mo ago

Oh come on, it can't be that serious... a drafty window costs you what, maybe an extra $20 a month? I used a $5 tube of DAP from the hardware store and it held for 3 years before I even noticed it was peeling. You probably could've just shoved some foam backer rod in there and called it a day instead of replacing the whole sash. Seems like you overthought this one big time.

gracec161mo ago

Wait, hold on, I gotta push back here. You're saying $20 a month like it's nothing, but that's $240 a year just from one drafty window. Over a few years that adds up fast, especially if you've got more than one window like that in the house. And sure, DAP works great until it doesn't, and then you're dealing with peeling paint and maybe moisture getting in behind it, which can rot the frame out way worse than just a draft. I've seen people patch things up with foam rod and caulk, and a year later the whole sill is soft and spongy because water got trapped in there. Replacing the sash might seem like a lot upfront, but if it fixes the problem for good and stops you from paying extra on your heating bill every month, it's actually the smarter move in the long run.

lewis.finley1mo ago

I saw a study saying drafts waste way more than $20 a month. Check your math?