Here is yet another idea to keep the cold air out of your old house. I had an earlier post about window caulking that peels off when you are done with it. This is an inexpensive alternative for blocking the cold air from seeping into your old windows. I do not use this idea on windows that are in high traffic areas, but on less visible areas that may have drafty windows. There are a few windows in my house that are in need of replacement but haven’t made it to my round tuit list. On these windows I use a product produced by Frost King called Window Insulation, it is a form of shrink wrap for your window. This product seems to be just a little better than the caulking but it is a little less pleasing to the eyes. I use this product in my laundry room and closet window. It seems to completely block the cold air draft coming from the windows, and is fairly easy to install. – First, clean the trim around your windows. Then put the two sided tape on the trim, making sure that you make a complete sealed square. Remove the protective strip off the two sided tape and stick the plastic to the tape. Put the sheet of plastic on one side first then pull it tight to the opposite side first then to the other sides. Get a hair dryer and sweep it over the plastic, the plastic will shrink and make a tight fit over your window. This is another easy, temporary fix for winter electric bill woes. If you would like to get this product for your house go to Lowe’s or any other hardware store.

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Drafty windows can cause your electric bill to jump dramatically during the winter. If you have an older heater it is likely to cost you even more. Older heaters sometimes are just run on heater coils with a forced air fan (now called emergency heat). A strong draft in the house can make your bill jump as much as 15 – 35%. Heat pumps and gas heat is a little more efficient, but you will still lose money letting your warm air slip out your leaky windows.
I found this Dap Seal n’ Peal caulking about two years ago at my local building store and tried it out. It seals the draft for the winter and you can peal it off whenever you feel necessary. To apply it, you need to clean the area of the window you will be caulking with a damp rag (use windex if the area is especially dirty). Let the area dry. Cut the caulking tube just enough to cover the crack and puncture the seal. Get another wet rag ready to clean up any excess caulking. Apply the caulking on the window, and smooth with your finger (lightly wet your finger with the clean up rag). Allow the caulking to dry and test to see if the window is still drafty.
Another thing to do along with fixing the drafty windows is sealing your drafty doors. I will talk about door on my next post.
Luke

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I recently was working on this old block house and noticed I was going to need new windows.  The house currently has aluminum frame, single pane windows (not very efficient).  The problem with a block house with aluminum windows is that it is very difficult to install regular replacement windows.  This is because the aluminum frame is much thinner than the new vinyl frame of the replacement window.   The window would look out of place in the frame and the integrity of the window would suffer.  I found that I would have to remove the complete aluminum window frame and all, and install wood backing then put in a window with nailing flanges (new construction window).  These are the steps that I followed:

1. Remove the old window…if you are lucky the window was screwed in from the outside into  a wood window jamb.  (you will still have to use a new construction window)

2. Install treated wood jamb on inside window opening on bare block surface.  Each house is different, you will have to measure how much the window will have to be offset from the exterior wall of the house.  Usually a 1×6 will be sufficient, but double check before purchasing your wood.  If you would like more trim on the outside of the house and a little less window you can use a 2×6 wood jamb.  Make sure to measure twice before ordering/purchasing anything.   Cut the wood to size then install it in the opening by first placing a bead of construction adhesive on the side of the board that will be touching the block.  Then install 4 – 5 concrete anchors in each board.

3. Install the window.  Place the window in the newly formed opening, make sure it is level, centered, and square.  First center the window in the hole and make sure you can get nails in all sides of the flange.  Put one nail in the top right hand side of the window flange.  Plumb the right hand side of the window using the level, put a second nail in the bottom right hand side of the window.  Level the bottom of the window using the 2ft level, then put a nail on the left hand bottom of the window flange.  Take a tape measure and measure from the top right hand corner of the window to the bottom left hand corner, write down the measurement within a 16th.  Then do the same from the top left hand corner to the bottom right hand corner…It is very important that you measure from the same place on either side of the window…the measurements should be within a 1/8 inch this is to make sure your window is square.   If all is well then put nails in every other hole on the nailing flange all the way around the window.

4. Seal the window.  This is a pain on a block house because you have very little room for sealing.  You will need to get some window wrap from your local building supply store (looks like a roll of 6″ aluminum tape with tar on one side covered with white wax paper to conserve stick surface).   Measure the gap between the window and the block, not counting the flange. This will probably be about 1.5 to 2.5 inches.  Add 1.5 inches to this measurement (3/4″ x 2).  Cut strips of window wrap this wide and at least as long as the opening height and width.  Peel off the sticky backing on the window wrap, and place centered over the nailing flange (your strip should cover the nailing flange and go up on the window frame and the block approx 3/4″)

5. Trim the outside and inside of the house. (coming soon)

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