Sealing windows properly can protect your house from chilly drafts. But doing this can be tricky sometimes. All the steps regarding looking for drafts, choosing the right sealant, fixing broken old caulk, and applying the new one are described below in this article.  

Windows are often many people’s favorite part of their house. After reading this article, you will be able to make sure your window seals are free of draft, properly sealed, and open only when you want to!

 

How caulking saves your electricity bills?

Caulking means putting waterproof sealants to fill cracks during the repairing of buildings. Caulking windows is an important step to keep your home moisture-free and energy-efficient. A window that leaks even air means a lot of energy loss due to air conditioning. 

You don’t want your expenses to go higher, especially if you spend money artificially air conditioning your room. It is always best to call in the window caulking experts. 

A step by step guide to sealing your window from inside

 

Step 1: Find out Leakage and Molds

– Find out where the leakage is and look for gaps 

Places where the windows meet, where the window meets the frame, or the frame meets the wall are the most likely to have a gap. Closely examine these places looking for gaps manually.

– Mark exactly where drafts are present

A good way to do this is to hold a candle near the suspected drafts. If the flame flickers by air movement, it is determined that air is moving through that section of the window. Mark, this region with a pencil to help you remember the areas you need to focus on. 

– Find out molds

Largely hidden fungal growth makes the surface look dirty. A good way to confirm a mold is to use a towel or a dabbing cloth diluted in one part bleach and 16 parts of water and dabbing it on the dirty surface. If the surface lightens immediately, you can assume that it is a mold. You can also clean out the surface using the same solution.

If the window frame material has some organic components in it, it might be cracked. You should check out how to remove mold from window sill if it’s way too large or you cannot find out the source of the mold.  

 

Step 2: Finding a good sealant

Generally, the sealant is off many types of acrylic latex, which is water-based, less hazardous

siliconized latex contains silicone, has greater resistance to weather, is good for exterior caulking 

polyurethane is solvent-based, which makes them quite powerful but breaks down when exposed to UV radiation

A caulking gun is essential for tight seals around the window. It would be best to look for a leakage-free caulk gun with a spring-loaded mechanism to deliver even pressure with minimal force. This prevents messy excess caulk from coming out and ensures its even and consistent application.

 

Step 3: Fixing old broken seals and applying new glazing

You can try using a caulk softener to help melt down the old caulking. Apply the softener at least two hours in advance to let it soak in. Then use a putty knife to remove the flakes. Try to remove almost all the caulk so that the new coat adheres to everything with an excellent grip. This will ensure good sealing of the window.

If things get out of hand, then you can always look for a trusted brick window sill replacement service and schedule a detailed budget-friendly clean-up. 

 

Step 4: Applying sealant

• Let the glaze be completely dry.
• Put masking tape leaving the area where you want to put the caulk.
• Load your caulk cartridge into the caulk gun and squeeze the trigger gently to ensure uniform application.
• Then run this bead throughout the seam.
• Put your finger in a soapy solution and press the bead into the seam. Try to smooth an entire seam with one steady swipe.
• Repeat this process on all sides and smooth out the caulk together on the corners.
• Allow the caulk to dry completely and trim any excess caulk from the sides.

The objective of air-sealing windows is to eliminate the space between the rough gap of the window and the window unit. The process might be tense but a step-to-step approach can surely cater to all your needs.