Question about that old basement window in my Bonnie Doon house

I was sure replacing the whole frame was the only fix for that drafty 1970s basement window, but my neighbor just showed me his place where he added interior storm panels from a local shop on Whyte Ave. The difference in cold air coming in after just one weekend was huge, and he said his heating bill dropped about 15% last month. Has anyone else tried something like this instead of a full frame replacement?

2 comments

2 Comments

carter.jennifer1mo agoProlific Poster

That interior storm panel idea is a total game changer. My cousin did the same thing in her Sutherland place and found old curtains stopped sticking to the windows from the damp cold. It basically creates a dead air space that acts like a mini insulator. Way cheaper than a whole new frame and you can still open the original window in summer.

allen.amy1mo ago

What about adding a thin layer of foam tape around the panel edges, @carter.jennifer? It would seal that dead air space even tighter and block more drafts. That combo would probably work better than just the panel alone.