Old Windows

**MissFancyPants** · 01-05-2010, 09:42 AM

I wasn't sure where to put this question...but I thought this might be a good place to ask (sorry if it isn't the right place!!)

My house is 90 years old. It has original wood windows on the 2nd floor. They work fine, but in the winter our house is terribly cold. We have magnetic storms on the windows upstairs, but it is still freezing. I can feel drafts on occasion.

Does anyone know of a way to properly winterize old wood windows? I tried googling but all I get are sites trying to sell me new windows.

I'm wearing boots in my house today. Haha. That's how cold it is.

**Josephhgoins** · 01-05-2010, 09:51 AM

Silly question, but can you just seal off the upstairs? Maybe close a door and put a towel at the bottom? I would also close off any heat vents you have going up there too.

**Greebo** · 01-05-2010, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by MissFancyPants

I wasn't sure where to put this question...but I thought this might be a good place to ask (sorry if it isn't the right place!!)

My house is 90 years old. It has original wood windows on the 2nd floor. They work fine, but in the winter our house is terribly cold. We have magnetic storms on the windows upstairs, but it is still freezing. I can feel drafts on occasion.

Does anyone know of a way to properly winterize old wood windows? I tried googling but all I get are sites trying to sell me new windows.

I'm wearing boots in my house today. Haha. That's how cold it is.

The 90 year old glass is probably single paned. That means your house is going to lose heat like water through a sieve in the winter and gain heat in the summer.

About all you can do is put plastic over the windows in the winter if you can't replace them.

**MissFancyPants** · 01-05-2010, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Josephhgoins

Silly question, but can you just seal off the upstairs? Maybe close a door and put a towel at the bottom? I would also close off any heat vents you have going up there too.

We shut all the vents off in the 1st floor actually, to help get warmer air to our 2nd floor. Our bedrooms and my home office is on the 2nd floor.

We already re insulated the attic, but we are under the suspicion that the back of our 2nd story is not insulated hardly at all. I can actually feel cold air drafts in our master bedroom.

If only blow in insulation was cheaper...I would do it in a heartbeat. Our heating bill is ridiculous in January & February.

Looks like I will be buying more plastic window coverings.

**frugalwarrior2** · 01-05-2010, 10:33 AM

I put plastic up and I go to Salvation Army and buy quilts and put them up. That blocks a lot. I also used to put styrofoam sheets up (home depot) and then have heavy panel drapes over that. Of course you can't see out of the windows up upstair won't matter??

**pinetree** · 01-05-2010, 01:27 PM

energy boomer had a post about using bubble wrap, I'm not sure if anyone tried it or not. I have window quilts on mine.

I also just found some storm windows on craigs list, they sold three of them for $10.00. You might see if you can find some that people dont want anymore. We had problems finding the right size.

My bedroom window was leaking really bad, I just thumbtacked a beach towel over it until I could get it fixed. It worked.

**McD** · 01-05-2010, 04:19 PM

Check with your electric/gas company. Ours here has a program where they will send a tech out to do a full energy audit, provide several free light bulbs, offer tips & techniques on how and what to do to save money and if you do decide to do something based on their suggestions (i.e. insulation) they offer substantial rebates.

**rudypoo98** · 01-05-2010, 05:24 PM

My house was built in 1897 is insulated really good even between the ceilings and upstairs floors.Like yours my windows are old and have aluminum storm windows.I always put plastic on the inside of them it helps alot.On the downstairs windows I put plastic inside and out both you wouldn't believe the difference it made when I started doing this. Dollar General has a thick plastic for windows that you can see through fine.It dosen't matter to me if I can see outside tho I don't care what the neighbors are doing.LOL

**MissFancyPants** · 01-05-2010, 08:29 PM

Originally Posted by rudypoo98

My house was built in 1897 is insulated really good even between the ceilings and upstairs floors.Like yours my windows are old and have aluminum storm windows.I always put plastic on the inside of them it helps alot.On the downstairs windows I put plastic inside and out both you wouldn't believe the difference it made when I started doing this. Dollar General has a thick plastic for windows that you can see through fine.It dosen't matter to me if I can see outside tho I don't care what the neighbors are doing.LOL

Ok this might sound like a dumb question...but when you say you put the plastic inside and out, you put plastic sheeting on the outside of the window...like exterior of the house? I have never heard of this before.

**sommersa** · 01-05-2010, 10:13 PM

I use bubble wrap and it makes a big difference. I also hang a blanket in between the blinds and the curtains. During the day when the sun shines I pull all this away so only the bubble wrapped windows remain and that will heat up the rm and the furance will kick off, if it is sunny enough out.

**Brat** · 01-06-2010, 07:46 PM

You can cover them with plastic inside and out..I would say from the age of them that your windows are also pocket windows and have a weight at each side of the window that is letting a lot of cold air in.

**MissFancyPants** · 01-06-2010, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by Brat

You can cover them with plastic inside and out..I would say from the age of them that your windows are also pocket windows and have a weight at each side of the window that is letting a lot of cold air in.

Yes they have weights...we have magnetic storms on the inside of the window frames...but I can still feel a draft. I guess I will have to fix the windows then put the magnetic storms back up.