Retrofit Start With the Basics

One of the quickest and easiest ways to reduce heat loss through windows is to seal air leaks by using caulking and weatherstripping. This low-cost, do-it-yourself project can have a positive impact on your heating bills and home comfort.

Finding air leaks is simple. On a cold or windy day, take a thin piece of tissue or plastic and hold it near your window frames. If the tissue or plastic flutters, you've found an air leak. You can also detect a draft by using the smoke of a lit incense stick as an indicator. The next step is to seal the leak with caulking or weatherstripping.

Figure 3. Where to caulk joints of a fixed window.

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This article is from Natural Resources Canada web-site