How to properly insulate windows

> Owners of houses with old wooden windows have to perform this procedure every year. The point of the process is to close up all the holes, because through them there is an influx of cold air from the street into the living space, and to increase the air temperature inside. You can insulate with special materials, or with improvised means.
First you need to wash and dry the window and frames well. If the glass does not fit tightly, then this deficiency must be eliminated with the help of a window sealant. After that, you can start insulating the frames.

Warming with special materials

In hardware and building stores, special seals for window frames are sold. These are narrow long tapes, rubber or foam rubber, with an adhesive layer. Rubber bands are more durable and retain their properties for several years, allowing you to freely open and close the window. Foam seals will last no more than one season, after which they will need to be removed or replaced.
The process of using the seals is simple. It is necessary to open the window and stick the tape along the entire edge of the sash with an adhesive layer and carefully close the frame. Thus, all other sashes are glued. For better insulation, you can glue the gaps between the frames with masking or polymer tape.

Warming with improvised means

If there are very large gaps between the frames, then the seals will not be enough. The cracks will need to be caulked with cotton wool, tow, paper, cloth, foam rubber or even putty. Insulation starts from the outer frame. It is tightly closed and with the help of a thin long knife or other suitable tool, the insulation is tightly laid in the voids around the entire perimeter. If the apartment has high humidity, you need to place an adsorbent between the frames - salt, soda, silica gel, which prevents the appearance of water condensation.
The inside of the window is insulated in the same way. After that, you need to additionally glue the cracks on top with masking tape, strips of paper or fabric. You can glue it with PVA glue or with a soapy solution. After soaping a paper or cloth strip, it is applied to the gap and pressed tightly. After drying, the material will adhere well, and if necessary, it can be removed without leaving a trace without damaging the paint on the frame.

Thermal insulation with building mixtures

You can put various building mixtures in the gaps between the frames - glue putties, window sealants or alabaster with chalk. It is worth remembering that this method is quite radical and it will be quite difficult to remove the compounds without damaging the paint or deeper layers of the frame.
In addition, you can insulate the window with polyurethane foam, but only if it is planned to be replaced in the near future or it will no longer be opened.