Older homes lose heat through the gaps around windows and doors as much as through the glass itself. The fixes here are temporary, removable and inexpensive, which is why they suit renters as well as owners. Each guide starts with fit: your frame finish, your landlord's rules, and whether the window still needs to open.
Start with the window insulation guide for older homes. It covers:
- Permission if you rent, and why to get the answer in writing.
- Frame finishes the kit makers say their tape is made for, and how to patch-test yours.
- Measuring each window with a margin, so the pack you buy actually covers it.
- Removal in spring, and what "removable" can and cannot promise on old paint.
- Free fixes first: locking the sash, closing curtains at night and finding where the draft really comes from.
Once you have your window sizes, the window insulation kit comparison works out which 3M, Duck or Frost King pack covers them.
One honest caveat before you start: sealing drafts changes the bill for whatever fuel heats your home. If you heat with gas or oil, a better-sealed window will not lower your electric bill much. Work out which bill is actually the problem first.