How to Weatherize Windows for Winter

Prepare your home for winter with easy to install rolled window film kits

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Duck Brand. All opinions are 100% mine.

Winter is coming.  And if you’re in a cooler climate that can mean air drafts sneaking into your home and increasing your heating costs.  Our home has multiple large windows that are great for letting the warm sun shine in, but not ideal in the winter when you can feel the cooler air drafts.

Two of these windows are in the bedrooms where our younger children sleep, so when Duck Brand asked me to try out their Duck Brand Rolled Window Kit I had the perfect windows for it.  

Sometimes I delay action on home improvement projects that I think are going to be complicated, but the kit was so easy to install!  The shrink film is rolled for ease of use, and the double sided adhesive tape is so convenient.  I was able to cover a 4′ x 6′ window by myself in under 20 minutes.  This quick tutorial will show you how to install your own window kit! 

Supplies: 

• Duck Brand Rolled Window Kit available at Walmart
• Scissors 
• Hair Dryer

Selecting your Product

If you’re unsure of your product needs, the Weatherization Project Selector can help you determine the best product(s) and sizes for your needs.  This easy to use tool can give you quick recommendations on how to weatherize all areas of your home.  

Clean Windows

The first thing you’ll want to do is give the area around the windows a quick wipe down as it adheres best to clean dry surfaces.  You can apply the window kit to painted or finished wood, aluminum or vinyl. 

Install Film

The kit comes with a roll of double sided adhesive tape that you’ll need to apply around the perimeter of the window. I placed mine all the the way around the edges of the window trim and used scissors to trim it to length.

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Starting on the right side of the window, remove the tape liner and press the roll of plastic against the adhesive. Having the film in a convenient roll makes it a breeze to apply and eliminates any need for pre-measuring. I simply rolled it out, and cut off the excess once I got to the opposite side of the window.

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Repeat the process on the sides of the window and then the bottom. Simply remove the adhesive liner, unfold the roll of film and press firmly to the tape all the way around.

At this point, you may have some excess film a the bottom of the window. Just trim this off with scissors as close to the tape as you can.

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You will notice that the film is loose, and may have wrinkles from being rolled. The final step of blow drying the shrink film is where the real magic happens. Use a blow dryer to apply heat to any wrinkles making sure not to hold it over any one spot for too long.

I was shocked at how well the blow dryer worked to remove the wrinkles. The film is crystal clear and practically invisible.

The film serves as an additional barrier between the outdoor air and your home’s insides. Once the temperatures start to warm up again, the window film is easy to remove.

If you’re looking for an easy way to increase your home’s energy efficiency and reduce costs be sure to add weatherizing your windows to your weekend project list and Pin it for later as a reminder!