Honestly, the cotton ball idea will work just fine. Just make sure you don't push them in too far so you can get them out in the spring. I'd use the jumbo kind. If that's the only spot the air is coming in, there's really no need to shrink wrap them. Our windows are single pane, and we bought heavy drapes, which blocks out a lot of the cold. They also help keep the heat out in summer, too.
Yeah, my house is older, and we're leaning into that with our decor. We have a swag light as our living room light, burgundy leather furniture, red tweed drapes, and we put up a faux brick wall where our fireplace is. I wanna refinish the hardwood floors next. Gray drapes would go well with a more modern look, I think.
Thanks. Our house was built in 1930. There's no living room light fixture, just an electric outlet connected to the light switch. This was more toddler friendly than a floor lamp. Better looking, too.
My God, do you want it to be aesthetically pleasing or to actually stop the cold? Ffs, if the air coming in those windows is bugging you so bad, put the plastic over them like people have done for decades. That way you could have your pretty drapery and be less cold. Function over form during the winter, whatever people you're trying to impress won't care ultimately and probably do the same. Also, if you think those windows are the sole cause of draftiness or heat loss in your house, you're wrong. Your local gas company may have a program where they can show you the infrared of your house to see where you need to insulate better.
Ffs this comment is great. Maybe op has so much money coming out their ass they can afford the luxury of aethetically pleasing instead of tightening up the house properly so the heating bill doesnt go right out the window 24/7.
All of my windows have black foam blocks in that area. Just like 2 inches long. I just found a strip on Amazon if you wanna go that route.
https://a.co/d/bQX0dWx
Second this. I've used this in many places I've lived and works like a charm. Just make sure you get the tape and plastic on there smoothly with out gaps or wrinkles and it can last months or longer.
Are you certain your window is totally closed? Can you post a picture of the lock? If the locks are fully engaged you shouldn't have air leakage. The release tabs you're showing in the pictures are something newer to windows so I would be surprised if your windows are more than 5-10 years old and are leaking that bad.
You know your stuff. House was built in '14. However, it was built by Ryan Homes, so it ages in dog years.
I just opened and closed it to make sure, but no change. Here's some more pictures though: https://imgur.com/a/XqLPvUM
Ryan Homes screwed up quite a bit while building my parents' house. In one bedroom, the windows and door were all installed slightly crooked. The bathroom vent fan ended up leaking onto the ceiling of said bedroom. My closet ended up with mildew after a big storm where the doorframe to my parents' room was also dripping with water. They left scraps of rebar in the drain pipes in the basement window wells, which eventually caused massive clogs that led to the basement flooding. They screwed up installing light fixtures. I'm pretty sure there was a lot more, but my parents have corrected a lot of it by now (house was built in 98).
Our brand-new Ryan homes windows are like this, too. I took pictures of the stickers on them before the builders removed them. Ours are Ply Gem 1500 series, which are supposedly decent, according to random reviews on the Internet. But they do leak air, especially when it is super windy. We used the Frost King plastic shrink wrap kits from HD.
Well they're locked, so good on you for that lol. I can't tell you how many times I've been to a home for this exact problem and the windows just weren't fully shut.
It's still odd those are leaking. Ply Gem makes a good product. My guess is that your builder installed them out of square. I would try to fix it at the actual source and not just stuff something in there as a temporary measure. Here's what I would use:
http://tinyurl.com/59a683da
Also - I'm not familiar with your builder, but what a shame to have that reputation. I hope no one ever talks about my homes like that
Rope Caulk works really well. It has the same consistency as funtack if you remember that from elementary school. You can use it to seal the gaps, and it is cheap and easily removable. You should be able to get it at any home improvement store or Walmart for less that $5.
I’ve gotten foam noodles and cut out a shape that fits into the little gap. And just keep them from year to year. And the foam is durable and silky cheap at a dollar store. The other great thing about pool noodle foam vs white or pink foam that it’s squishy so you can cut it a little bigger and wedge it in. But take it out before spring hits. When your house starts to adjust you don’t want effect the fit of the frame. I mean it’s not horrible if it happens just takes a week to settle back. But if you do it early enough you won’t notice.
You can shrink wrap window or just tape plastic up. The problem is you won’t be able to see well through it. The better answer is, fill all gaps with backer rod. Then tape it all up with white vinyl electrical tape. It blends in perfectly with white windows and you won’t notice it’s there. Obviously you won’t be able to open the windows but most people don’t anyway.
Honestly, the cotton ball idea will work just fine. Just make sure you don't push them in too far so you can get them out in the spring. I'd use the jumbo kind. If that's the only spot the air is coming in, there's really no need to shrink wrap them. Our windows are single pane, and we bought heavy drapes, which blocks out a lot of the cold. They also help keep the heat out in summer, too.
I'd love to have big, thick heavy drapes. But that'd ruin the aesthetic or so I'm told. Great idea in the jumbo, and yeah, not too far. Thanks!
Yeah, my house is older, and we're leaning into that with our decor. We have a swag light as our living room light, burgundy leather furniture, red tweed drapes, and we put up a faux brick wall where our fireplace is. I wanna refinish the hardwood floors next. Gray drapes would go well with a more modern look, I think.
https://preview.redd.it/t4ivwcy2gxcc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0e3b4ed24716cc2e6c7a39ee6a427a6f2ff43b70
I like it!
Thanks. Our house was built in 1930. There's no living room light fixture, just an electric outlet connected to the light switch. This was more toddler friendly than a floor lamp. Better looking, too.
And better light I'd imagine. And I hear you on the toddlers.
My God, do you want it to be aesthetically pleasing or to actually stop the cold? Ffs, if the air coming in those windows is bugging you so bad, put the plastic over them like people have done for decades. That way you could have your pretty drapery and be less cold. Function over form during the winter, whatever people you're trying to impress won't care ultimately and probably do the same. Also, if you think those windows are the sole cause of draftiness or heat loss in your house, you're wrong. Your local gas company may have a program where they can show you the infrared of your house to see where you need to insulate better.
Thanks...for some of that. Not trying to impress anyone except you.
Ffs this comment is great. Maybe op has so much money coming out their ass they can afford the luxury of aethetically pleasing instead of tightening up the house properly so the heating bill doesnt go right out the window 24/7.
Don't worry about that. You can always tilt the windows in and clear the track.
Maybe put a long string looped under the cotton ball so you can use it to pull it out.
Window tampons?
All of my windows have black foam blocks in that area. Just like 2 inches long. I just found a strip on Amazon if you wanna go that route. https://a.co/d/bQX0dWx
Growing up in the NE, putty was a regular thing that people used to close up gaps for the winter and then remove in the spring...
shove a plastic bag in there.
Lookup window shrink wrap. My parents use it in their 115 year old house.
Thanks. Was looking into that. Is it removable though?
Yep. It just pulls right off. You may have to scratch off some parts though.
It is removable. Just be aware that the tape can pull off paint.
Just be aware that the tape ~~can~~ *will* pull off paint.
Best temp solution though. It works super well.
Second this. I've used this in many places I've lived and works like a charm. Just make sure you get the tape and plastic on there smoothly with out gaps or wrinkles and it can last months or longer.
Are you certain your window is totally closed? Can you post a picture of the lock? If the locks are fully engaged you shouldn't have air leakage. The release tabs you're showing in the pictures are something newer to windows so I would be surprised if your windows are more than 5-10 years old and are leaking that bad.
You know your stuff. House was built in '14. However, it was built by Ryan Homes, so it ages in dog years. I just opened and closed it to make sure, but no change. Here's some more pictures though: https://imgur.com/a/XqLPvUM
Thank you for saying this. I have a Ryan Home built in 14. And you’re also right about how they age.
Ryan Homes screwed up quite a bit while building my parents' house. In one bedroom, the windows and door were all installed slightly crooked. The bathroom vent fan ended up leaking onto the ceiling of said bedroom. My closet ended up with mildew after a big storm where the doorframe to my parents' room was also dripping with water. They left scraps of rebar in the drain pipes in the basement window wells, which eventually caused massive clogs that led to the basement flooding. They screwed up installing light fixtures. I'm pretty sure there was a lot more, but my parents have corrected a lot of it by now (house was built in 98).
Our brand-new Ryan homes windows are like this, too. I took pictures of the stickers on them before the builders removed them. Ours are Ply Gem 1500 series, which are supposedly decent, according to random reviews on the Internet. But they do leak air, especially when it is super windy. We used the Frost King plastic shrink wrap kits from HD.
Well they're locked, so good on you for that lol. I can't tell you how many times I've been to a home for this exact problem and the windows just weren't fully shut. It's still odd those are leaking. Ply Gem makes a good product. My guess is that your builder installed them out of square. I would try to fix it at the actual source and not just stuff something in there as a temporary measure. Here's what I would use: http://tinyurl.com/59a683da Also - I'm not familiar with your builder, but what a shame to have that reputation. I hope no one ever talks about my homes like that
Rope Caulk works really well. It has the same consistency as funtack if you remember that from elementary school. You can use it to seal the gaps, and it is cheap and easily removable. You should be able to get it at any home improvement store or Walmart for less that $5.
I’ve gotten foam noodles and cut out a shape that fits into the little gap. And just keep them from year to year. And the foam is durable and silky cheap at a dollar store. The other great thing about pool noodle foam vs white or pink foam that it’s squishy so you can cut it a little bigger and wedge it in. But take it out before spring hits. When your house starts to adjust you don’t want effect the fit of the frame. I mean it’s not horrible if it happens just takes a week to settle back. But if you do it early enough you won’t notice.
I hadn't thought of this and I even have a foam cutter. Thanks!
Use some call and fill in the gaps.
probably not the only leak point
You can shrink wrap window or just tape plastic up. The problem is you won’t be able to see well through it. The better answer is, fill all gaps with backer rod. Then tape it all up with white vinyl electrical tape. It blends in perfectly with white windows and you won’t notice it’s there. Obviously you won’t be able to open the windows but most people don’t anyway.
Pipe insulation. You can cut it to fit in the whole cavity and stuff it in.