Stop Window Drafts and Door Drafts to Save Energy
Updated: Aug. 27, 2019Remove window and door trim to seal air leaks for good and save big money
Overview
If your windows or doors are a source of chilly drafts all winter long, the problem could be worn-out seals, weather stripping or thresholds. Then again, sloppy installation might be to blame. When cold weather arrives, hold the back of your hand near the edges of windows or doors to track down the source of leaks. If you feel cold air flowing out from behind the trim, chances are the spaces around the window and door jambs weren’t properly sealed.
Plugging these leaks is a time-consuming job: You have to pull off the interior trim, seal around the jambs and then reinstall the trim. But if your doors and windows are otherwise fairly airtight, the payoff can be big too. Stopping drafts not only makes your home more comfortable but also cuts energy bills (air leaks are a major source of heat loss in most homes).
Remove trim and examine insulation
Photo 1: Slice through paint with sharp blade
Slice through paint where the trim meets the wall and jamb. Put a new blade in your utility knife and make several passes over heavy paint buildup.
First investigate further: Remove one piece of trim from a window or a door. To prevent chipping or tearing paint, cut through the paint first (Photo 1).
Slip a stiff putty knife under the trim and lift it enough to insert a flat pry bar. Don’t simply force up one end of the piece. Instead, work along the length of the piece, moving your pry bar and lifting the trim off gradually (Photo 2). At mitered corners, watch for nails driven through the joint. To prevent these nails from splitting mitered ends, pry up both mitered pieces together. Then pull them apart. When you’re removing nails from the trim, pull them through the back side to avoid damaging the face of the trim (Photo 3).
With one piece removed, examine the space between the jamb and the wall framing. If the drywall covers the space, trim it back with a utility knife. If you see only a few loose wads of fiberglass insulation or no insulation at all between the jamb and framing, it’s likely that all your windows and doors are poorly sealed.
Window draft seal: Inject foam sealant to seal gaps
To seal the gap, remove the remaining trim and inject foam sealant (Photo 4). Some sealants will push jambs inward as they expand, so be sure to use one that’s intended for windows and doors (check the label). We chose DAP Tex Plus because it’s easy to clean up with a damp rag. Most expanding foams are nearly impossible to clean up before they harden.
Let the foam harden and trim off any excess foam with a knife before you reinstall the trim.
Reinstall trim in original positions
Position each piece exactly as it was originally and tack each one up with only two nails (Photo 5). When all the pieces are in place, check their fit. With only a couple of nails in each piece, you can make small adjustments by holding a block against the trim and tapping it with a hammer. Then add more nails. If your trim has a clear finish, fill the nail holes with a matching colored filler such as Color Putty or DAP Finishing Putty. With painted trim, it’s best to fill the holes with spackle and repaint.
CAUTION: Lead Paint Warning
Lead paint chips are hazardous. If your home was built before 1978, call your local health department for information on testing and handling lead paint safely.
Required Tools for this Project
Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—you’ll save time and frustration.
- Brad nail gun
- Hammer
- Nippers or Pliers
- Pry bar
- Putty knife
- Rags
- Utility knife
Required Materials for this Project
Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here’s a list.
- Foam sealant
- Putty
- Spackle (for painted trim)
