follow-up: leaking windows & plastic film

[Use Less]

A local store had those shrinkable film kits for $1. My windows are not standard. The plastic is large enough I could trim some off the long side. I taped that securely to an end, then installed. That was yesterday. I see this AM that there is still moisture on the inside of the storm. Is that residual, and would you anticipate it will go away eventually? I guess I'll go ahead and use the other 3. At $1, even if not completely tight, surely they slow the heat leak?

[TnAndy]

Do you have really old double hung windows ? The kind that use the rope running thru a pulley to a weight in behind the casing ?

If so, stopping all the leaks is nearly impossible. Putting plastic over the sash area as you've done will stop a lot, but a lot of inside air leaks around those wide wood casings on the sides and out to the storm windows. In those old windows, the only thing between the inside and outside are two pcs of 3/4" lumber.....the inside casing and the outside casing. And with age, and lack of caulk/paint, they are like big holes in the walls.

The solution is use a "painter's caulk" where the casing meets the wall surface to seal that edge of the casing, then run your plastic all the way over to the edge of the casing/wall point.

Even better is to install vinyl replacement windows in the sash area, and remove the casing & old window weights and stuff that area with fiberglass insulation.

[Use Less]

Definitely have old double-hung windows. Some rope is there, some not. The sash weights are gone. I was thinking inside caulking would be the next idea. Right now doing temp fixes that are helpful and not pricey since this is a temp location.

[MichaelZ]

The moisture will go away, if the window is sealed. Give it a few days.
What I have gone to, by and large, is to create my own interior plastic-covered storms. You can use screen-kit framing from a hardware store, as shown at http://www.drywallinfo.com/how-to-in...m-windows.html , or you can use wood and attach plastic to the back. The photo below shows a plastic storm in the middle window (notice the 4 small screws). The wood was from some old trim I had, ripped down, and it matches perfectly. These storms look a lot nicer and are quicker to put in - also you may get years of use out of the plastic, rather than using more new plastic each year. Another benefit of such storms is that the plastic is closer to the window. 1/4" to 1/2" gap is best - if you have a big space between plastic and window then convection currents transport heat out and the plastic is a little less effective.

[Vosey]

Originally Posted by Use Less

Definitely have old double-hung windows. Some rope is there, some not. The sash weights are gone. I was thinking inside caulking would be the next idea. Right now doing temp fixes that are helpful and not pricey since this is a temp location.

Our previous old house had these. We used "grey worms", which are reuseable, available in the same area at the store, along all the edges of the window where needed. Most importantly where the two windows meet. We also used foam pieces where necessary to get the windows to fit better and then applied the shrinkable film. Some years we did the film on the inside, some on the outside. I remember some moisture, not much. Made a huge difference!

[cowbelle]

Also, in the same area of stores, there often is a heavier weight plastic you can get. If you are going to have to cut it anyway, get the heavier one and I use colored duck tape (whatever matches the window best) to attach it. This plastic doesn't tear easily and I reuse it for several years.