Drafty Windows in Winter: How to Heat Your Apartment

How to Identify the Draft Source

Before looking for solutions, you need to understand where the draft is coming from. In Kyiv apartments, where many buildings have old window structures, drafty windows in winter are a very common problem. There are several simple ways to identify the draft source:

Candle Test

Hold a lit candle or match along the sash perimeter. Flame flickering indicates the draft location. This is the simplest and most effective method.

Paper Test

Take a sheet of paper, close the sash with it, and shut the window. If the paper pulls out easily — there’s a gap. Repeat the test around the entire perimeter.

Visual Inspection

Carefully examine the window during strong winds. Sometimes the draft location can be identified visually — by curtain movement or using smoke (hookah fuel, dry ice).

Typical draft locations:

• Between sash and frame (worn seals)
• At sash corners (improper hardware adjustment)
• Between frame and wall (installation joint gaps)
• Through flashing (improper installation)

Important: If there are drafts from multiple locations simultaneously, this may indicate serious problems with the window or installation.

Temporary Solutions for Quick Draft Elimination

When cold enters the apartment and there’s no time for repairs, use temporary methods:

1. Foam Insulation Strips

The most common and cheapest option. Several types are available:

• Self-adhesive foam strips — easy to attach and remove
• Silicone tubes — for filling gaps between frame and wall
• Heat-shrink tape — for temporary insulation

2. Thick Paper or Cardboard

Simple but effective. Draft paper or cardboard can be secured at draft locations. Not the most aesthetic option, but it works.

3. Soap Solution

Apply soap solution to draft locations — it creates a thin film that covers small gaps. The effect is temporary but helps with minor drafts.

4. Hot Water Bottles

Bottles with hot water placed near the window create a thermal curtain and compensate for incoming cold air.

Tip: For quick insulation, use self-adhesive foam polyethylene insulation. It’s inexpensive and easily removed in spring.

Permanent Solutions to the Problem

Temporary methods help survive winter, but for a complete solution, more radical measures are needed:

1. Seal Replacement

This is the most common cause of drafts. Rubber seals lose elasticity and deform over time.

How to replace seals:

• Pull the old seal out of the groove
• Clean the groove from dirt and adhesive
• Insert the new seal, starting from a corner
• Ensure the seal sits tightly and evenly

Seal cost ranges from 50 to 200 UAH per meter. Replacement can take 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the number of sashes.

2. Hardware Adjustment

Sometimes simply adjusting the hardware is enough to ensure tight sash contact.

Main adjustments:

• Pressure — increase sash pressure against frame (“winter” mode)
• Vertical adjustment — if the sash has “sagged”
• Horizontal adjustment — if the sash doesn’t seal tightly from the side

3. Installation Joint Insulation

If there’s a gap between frame and wall, the installation joint needs insulation:

• Remove old foam (if it’s protruding outside)
• Fill the gap with new mounting foam
• Cover the foam with plaster or decorative profile

Important: Hardware adjustment is best left to professionals. Improper adjustment can damage the mechanism.

How to Heat Your Apartment with Drafty Windows

If you live in Kyiv and the draft problem can’t be solved on your own, contact professionals. UWS performs window repair and adjustment, glass unit replacement, and slope insulation in Kyiv with a warranty on all work.

While the main problem is being resolved, you need to ensure a comfortable room temperature:

Effective Heating Methods:

1. Heaters Use convectors or oil radiators. Place the heater opposite the window to create a thermal curtain.

2. Thermal Curtains Dense curtains with thermal insulation lining help retain heat. Close them at night for maximum effect.

3. Thermal Curtains Special electric devices installed above the window that create a warm air flow, blocking cold air.

4. Rugs and Carpets A warm floor helps retain heat. Use rugs or carpets near windows.

5. Electric Underfloor Heating If drafts are constant, consider installing electric underfloor heating near windows.

Tip: Don’t place furniture flush against windows — it blocks warm air circulation and worsens room heating.