When I woke up this morning, there was frost covering the garden and a chill in the air. While it looks pretty and festive, it also means my home is going to feel chilly today – and that’s mostly down to the windows.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through a couple of simple fixes that can help you hold onto more heat, cut down on draughts and keep things comfortable without needing big renovations or specialist tools.
The goal here isn’t to push major replacements but to help you spot quick little fixes that will give your home a little efficiency boost – and possibly even improve your property’s energy performance certificate at the same time. By focusing on practical changes that you can carry out with minimal cost, you’ll see how small adjustments can contribute to lower bills and a more cosy, comfortable space.
1. Checking around for minor damage
Starting with a basic inspection of your windows will help you find gaps, cracks or loose seals that are letting air move freely in and out of your home. A humble tube of caulk or a roll of weatherstripping can tighten those weak spots within minutes, giving your windows a little more resilience against temperature changes.
These fixes are at the lower end of the cost scale and are fairly easy to apply on your own without professional help. Anyone with older window frames may notice some obvious wear, and taking the time to fix these sections saves you from bigger jobs later down the line. These small repairs give your glass and frame more stability, helping your home hold heat more effectively.
2. Renewing old worn-out seals
The rubber or foam around your window frame naturally breaks down over time, and once that happens, air begins to travel through the gaps, which causes those drafts in the first place. But did you know that replacing those worn seals is inexpensive and can make a noticeable difference to how your home feels throughout the day? It’s a simple fix that improves your comfort without any extra complications.
A couple of years ago, I added a self-adhesive foam draft seal around my living room window and it worked so well that it not only created a tight seal that kept us cosy, but was even able to block out the smell of wood smoke from neighbouring chimneys.
Fresh seals also help to reduce energy loss. They support the frame and glass, so the entire structure of your window just works better, which is what most homeowners want before they consider splashing out money on larger fixes.
3. Consider making quick repairs
If your frame or panes show signs of small cracks, loose putty or slight movement, tackling basic window and glazing repairs might be the quickest way to improve your energy efficiency. These light fixes don’t require a full replacement of the window and they can often be handled without specialist help. They tighten up the overall structure so your home holds warmth better.
I have one window where the double glazing has ‘blown’ so it’s misted between the panes of glass. I’m considering just having this one pane of glass replaced so that I can see out of the window again this winter. Keeping on top of these issues saves you money in the long term, and catching them early can make your window and house temperature a lot more stable since it stops heat from escaping through weakened points.
4. Adding a layer of insulation film
Window insulation film gives you a clear and quick way to trap more heat without interfering with the natural light coming into your home. It sticks directly to the frame and creates an extra barrier that slows heat loss during the winter months. The cost is low compared to long-term solutions.
It’s also easy to remove once warmer weather returns because it’s just a film, not an irreversible window treatment. This gives you a lot of flexibility, especially if you’re renting or prefer to have temporary upgrades that don’t alter your home permanently.
5. Trying out thermal curtains
Thermal curtains add a thick layer between the room and the window, helping your home stay warm with very little effort. They work well on cold nights and are simple to pull aside when you want more daylight. Plus, you can easily hang a narrow curtain inside your exterior doors to further block out drafts. Many households find them cost-effective because they help stabilise the temperature in your home without the need for mechanical equipment.
You can choose luxurious thick velvet or chenille for winter, or opt for a thermally-lined but lighter fabric that makes your curtains work throughout different seasons as well. Overall, thermal curtains contribute to a small yet steady source of insulation that actually boosts the benefits of other fixes.
6. Looking at shutters
Installing budget-friendly window shutters can help you manage indoor temperature by acting as a physical barrier against draughts and heat loss. They fit closely to the frame, which helps block cold air during winter. Many people also appreciate them as a practical home upgrade that doesn’t require major installation work.
Likewise, adding a thermal roller blind or roman blind inside the recess gives you another layer of insulation behind your cosy curtains. Just like layering up your clothing in the winter, this traps air between the layers of fabric at your windows for additional cosiness.
Shutters and blinds can also help during the summer season since they limit the amount of direct sunlight entering your rooms. This helps keep your space cooler while adding a simple visual refresh that looks and feels very modern.
7. Improving the airflow control
Sometimes, energy loss in your home comes from inconsistent airflow rather than the window itself. Adding a basic draught excluder or adjusting the various ventilation points on your windows gives you more control over how air travels around your home.
This helps you manage your comfort without the need for relying heavily on heating or cooling systems. I didn’t realise it, but most of the ventilation sections of my windows were blocked up with years of dirt, so simply cleaning them out made a big difference to the performance. Small changes like this often deliver the most noticeable results and it’s an easy place to start when your home feels uneven in temperature.
8. Considering heating accessories
If your home is anything like mine, you’ll probably have a radiator below each window. It often feels like the heat from the radiator is simply warming the cold glass of the windows, rather than the room. Also, you won’t be able to use long floor-length thick curtains on these windows because, when closed, the heat will be stuck behind the curtain.
Simple accessories like insulated foil reflector panels can help to strengthen your home efficiency efforts as they sit behind the radiator and reflect the warmth away from the window and into the room. You can’t see the panels once installed and this option is available at an affordable price point, making it even more appealing to homeowners.
These types of fixes also offer seasonal flexibility because you can remove them as needed, giving you control without committed structural changes. You can just pack them away when they’re not needed in the season and bring them out again when they are.
At the end of the day, your home’s energy efficiency doesn’t have to come from large-scale projects when small, affordable improvements can make just as much of an impact, especially over time. With just a few practical updates to areas like seals, coverings and basic repairs, your home can feel far more comfortable while helping you keep heating and cooling costs steady.
Let me know in the comments below what home hacks you’ve used to heat your home more efficiently during the colder months, I’d love to hear your tips and tricks for staying cosy all season.
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