Fix a Draft in a Bay Window

a Bay Window
  • 1-2 hours
  • Beginner
  • 75-105
What You'll Need
Hair dryer
Window film kit
Step ladder
Silicone caulk
Caulking gun
Measuring tape
Scissors
1/2-inch thick foam
What You'll Need
Hair dryer
Window film kit
Step ladder
Silicone caulk
Caulking gun
Measuring tape
Scissors
1/2-inch thick foam

A bay window is a beautiful addition to any home but that beauty can lead to serious problems. Standard windows do not protect well against drafts or air escaping from them. A bay window presents this same issue but on a much larger scale due to the nature of what a bay window is. Windows that are not properly sealed or insulated can cause your electric bills to be much higher than what they could be if the bay window were sealed. The following article will show you how to seal the bay window against drafts and reduce higher electric bills.

Step 1 - Insulating with Foam

When you open your windows you'll notice a gap between the window frame and the window itself. This space is where cold air gets in the home and hot air to get out. You can buy expensive weather stripping but it does the same thing as regular foam. Open the window and measure how wide and how deep the space is as well as how tall it is. Cut the foam to match and push it in place. Close the window, making sure it shuts without pushing down the foam.

Step 2 - Caulking

Cold air can enter the home through spaces that you'd normally not see. As far as windows go, a bay window offers more chances for cold air to enter the room. Place your hand over all of the seams of the window sill and between the windows. If they are cold to the touch or you can feel a draft then there is a gap. Silicone caulk is clear so you avoid unsightly mess. Apply a line of caulk under the window sill to start and a line of caulk along the seams where the individual window blocks come together. Outline the entire bay window with caulk. Do not put caulk in areas where the windows open because you will prevent them from being able to be opened.

Step 3 - Window Film

Even though you are making progress with stopping bay window drafts, you still have the part of the window where the cold can always enter the home. The actual window pane is often a source of drafts. Not many people can afford double or triple pane windows. Window film is a type of shrink wrap that can be placed over the window and then heated to form a tight seal over the window pane. If the window film is on a roll, then measure and cut the film to the size of each window. Window film that is already sized can easily be placed over the window. Remove the adhesive from the film and affix it to the window according to the instructions on the packaging. Plug in the hair dryer and, holding it several inches away from the window, turn it on warm and move it over the film until it shrinks tight to the window.