Plastic sheeting works great if you’re leaking cold air through the window sashes itself. If you have gaps between the sashes, or if the glazing around the panes of glass is loose or has worn away, then the plastic sheet encases the whole open window area and stops the air leaking. Brandon and I have always noticed a significant difference in how often our furnace runs when we have plastic on the windows.

If your problem is deeper inside the window frame, however, the plastic sheeting might not do the trick. If the insulation between the window frame and the wall is faulty then you’ll still have drafts around your window.

At about $10 a package (enough tape and plastic to do nine 3′x5′ windows) it’s an inexpensive way to figure out where you’re actually losing heat. If the plastic sheeting fixes the problem, then you’re set. If not, then you know you need to look into more invasive options.

Good luck and keep warm! -Kelli