How to Keep Cold Air from Coming Through Windows

Older windows, even some newer windows, can let cold air right into your home. It happens because of cracks, failed seals, and poor insulation. If you’re trying to fix this problem by putting bubble wrap on windows, you can do better. Read on for how to keep cold air from coming through windows.

Bubble Wrap Windows

Adding bubble wrap or saran wrap to your windows does help insulate them, but not very well. And these fixes look sloppy, especially when they have to be done over each year, leaving adhesive marks or chipped paint.

What bubble wrap can’t do, is create dead air space between it and your window. That’s a big reason why double-pane windows insulate better than single-pane, the space between the panes. When trying to keep cold from coming through your windows, you want to add layers – of material AND air.

woman adding bubble wrap windows for insulation

Understand R Value vs. U Value

The way your house feels depends on the make-up of your house: wall and attic insulation, double or single-pane windows. All of these have an R value and a U value that together make the mean radiant room temperature.

R value measures heat resistance and U value measures heat transference. A low U value (transfer of heat) and high R value (resistance to heat transfer) is ideal for high surface temperature. Together, these give us the combined effectiveness of the materials in insulating a room and our perceived temperature.

Mean radiant room temperature expresses the influence of all surface temperatures on comfort. That’s why someone sitting next to a window can be cold while someone across the room is fine. No matter what the thermostat says, if your windows aren’t insulated, you will have a low perceived temperature and comfort level.

How to Keep Cold Air From Coming Through Windows with Inserts

Give up the bubble wrap. To really keep cold air from coming through your windows and increase the perceived temperature, you need to increase insulation. You can add another layer of insulating material and air with window inserts.

Indow window inserts are made with acrylic, which insulates better than glass. They use compression tubing to create a seal around the window frame. This adds an air pocket between the insert and the window for more insulation. Because the insert is on the inside of the house, it raises the surface temperature.

Just one insert can have a huge impact on the mean radiant room temperature. Start with the coldest window

How to Insulate Windows | Indow

Let Us Help You

  1. 1

    Request a Free Estimate. We'll provide you with a preliminary estimate based on your basic window dimensions. It's quick and easy!

  2. 2

    Measure your windows with our easy-to-use laser measurement kit. We'll guide you through the simple process, ensuring a perfect fit.

  3. 3

    Customize your inserts to match your needs and your aesthetic, with tubing colors that seamlessly blend into your space.

  4. 4

    Transform your space with custom-crafted inserts shipped directly to your home, ready to fit perfectly in your windows.

We value safety and privacy. We will never share, sell, or rent your data to third parties not directly related to your purchase or consideration of our products. Read our full policy here.

Trusted Since 2010

Indow has insulated more than 23,000 buildings - helping reduce carbon emissions by nearly 200,000 tons - and creating comfort across the US & Canada!

Reviews

Excellent

4.50 Average Rating

1549 Reviews

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    The indow window company and their staff are great Partners in battling the cold winter drafts coming through your windows and helps keep your home warm and cozy.. Wonderful company and great customer service..

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Overall I am happy with the results. They do exactly what is advertised online.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    We ordered the Thermo insulation inserts for our cabin off the Blue Ridge Parkway in VA. The windows are old and drafty and with the wind and the cold that has happened this year, the inserts have really came through. We used to see the curtains move when the wind was blowing hard and the cold would come right through the windows. After installing the inserts, which was so easy, there is a night and day difference with the window inserts and the house is actually warmer and the heat is not running constantly. These inserts have saved us thousands of dollars in window replacments and you can not even tell that the inserts are in the windows. Thank you Window Inserts for all your help.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Excellent product for windows outside noise problems. Bought 2 Indow inserts for our bedroom windows. I was hesitant at first, but after installing our new acoustic Indows I was impressed. It really cut down on outside noise tremendously. Got few estimates for 2 new windows to replace the old ones. The cost of installing new windows was a shocker. Now, I am happy with my choice to go with Indows. Highly recommend!

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    This was the easiest install, as well the team are amazing, get right on a call answer the questions, there support is fantastic. I measured all my windows live near a street looking to knock down the noise.

    I tested this bought Indows installed them Noise went down shipping, timing and quality was great.

    Now I’ll install 4 more.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Thank you indows! We are very happy with our 5 new indows which were delivered by Fedex and in

    perfect shape when opened. Our dining room and adjoining room are warmer in the cold, which is a bit more this winter

    The indows were installed easily by myself and my wife as expected and look great. In total we have installed 8 of your products. Thank you again, Randy and Mary Jane.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    The inserts came as scheduled. They were crated very well. They fit perfectly. Great product and service.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Quick delivery and the windows fit very well even with how many anomolies there were in our 107 year old house. Installation took longer than I expected with 12 units to install, but once I figured out what I was doing it went much quicker. We ordered white frames with the plan to eventually repaint all the interior trim. In the mean time, the frames hide very well with our curtains and sheers. We are glad to get the decreased noise and improved thermal performance without ruining the exterior of this historic home.

  • 3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    My home is about 500 ft. from an interstate highway and had been looking for a solution to reduce the highway noise, especially 18-wheeler truck noise all night long. What pushed me to finally make a decision was the 9 month highway repair project with trucks moving back and forth with their loud beeping when going in reverse (every 20 seconds) all through the night, every week night. I opted for the acoustic inserts, which took 3 months to receive from the time of my order. I was not happy about the 3 month waiting period. I was very timely with measuring the windows which included an arched window which I had to trace. The measurement process required 10 hours of time, most of which was the tracing (including time and cost to make several trips to buy materials for this). When they finally arrived, I installed the inserts and had approximately a 30% reduction in decibel levels. After nearly $5,000 in costs, I was hoping to have had better noise reduction.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    I live in a house that’s over 100 years old so some of the windows are odd sizes and drafty. Originally I ordered 3 Indow window inserts for my dining room to try them out. I was so impressed with their appearance and effectiveness at insulating and reducing sound that I decided to order more. Recently I ordered another 9 Indow window units for my living room, bedrooms, bathroom, and kitchen. Both of the orders went very smoothly. They arrived well packaged and in perfect condition. I have already installed all of them and just in time as Chicago and most of the midwest has just been hit by a winter storm and blizzard with below freezing temperatures and 8-12 inches of snow. I couldn’t be happier they look fantastic as well as being practical and functional. My home is so much warmer and quieter now that they have been installed. Indow’s pricing was great and they gave me discounts as a returning customer and for bulk purchasing. Customer service, instructions and follow up were all excellent. Such a wonderful company and product.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    I had 7 indow windows installed for draft reduction in my master bedroom. I had a home energy assessor [ from our utility supplier BGE] who checked for drafts / air leaks using infra-red camera and he certified "no leaks". Or bedroom is definitely less colder this winter and I am very happy with the cost effectiveness and efficiency offered by Indow window.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    An excellent product. Very well made, easy to install. Great support. Improves room temperature.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    The process of ordering and installing is quite extensive. This was my first experience with the company and left me a bit overwhelmed, even though I have 50 years experience in home construction and maintenance. But the results are really satisfying.

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Everything fit. Installation was easy. I ordered almost 40 Indows and NO problems: clean, clearly marked for installation placement and can’t wait to NOT freeze this winter! Martin and Matt were beyond helpful!

  • 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    The indows came and all fit perfictly. I am excited that I will no longer have to install the winterizing plastic sheets over our windows each winter. They are nearly invisible but I have the feeling that they will make a positive impact on our heating bills. Thank you!