12 Proven Solutions for Sealing in the Heat This Winter

Winter drafts find every weak spot in your house, even if it’s a well-heated one. Warmth slips out through glass first, but small gaps around doors, a pull-down attic stairway, a garage door, and even the walls of a water heater tank can all let heat escape. Tracking down those weak spots is the first step toward keeping your home comfortable and using less electricity to do it.

The following list of proven solutions for sealing in the heat this winter includes everything from simple weatherstripping and draft stoppers to smart controls for managing your heating needs. It mixes affordable DIY supplies, decorating upgrades, and high-tech tools, and it includes several products the BobVila.com team has personally tested. There’s a fix here to suit nearly any space, and a few that would make a great gift for the handy homeowner on your list.

Plastic film isn’t the only way to keep a window from leaking heat. These cellular shades from the Home Decorators Collection trap warm air in honeycomb-shaped pockets, adding an insulating layer against the glass. Blackout fabric brings privacy and light control, and the cordless design eliminates the safety hazard of a dangling cord while keeping the overall look uncluttered. Since they come in a range of sizes and can be mounted inside or outside the window frame, be sure to measure carefully to ensure the right fit.

Get the Home Decorators Collection cellular shades at The Home Depot. 

When it comes to sealing in the heat, it helps to start by seeing where it’s escaping—and the Topdon TC005 thermal camera makes those cold spots visible. Named best overall in our thermal cameras guide,it has a 3.5-inch display for examining temperature patterns, laser distance measurement for reference points, and 64GB of storage for documenting findings. App and PC connectivity support further analysis, while its 8-hour battery and built-in LED light make home inspections easier.

What our tester says: “I was impressed with the TopDon thermal camera’s ability to detect\ the lowest temperatures in its images. It makes it possible to pinpoint where heat loss is occurring.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Review tester and writer

Get the Topdon thermal camera at Amazon or Walmart.

As the top pick in our thermal curtains guide, these Best Home Fashion blackout curtains feature an extra-thick triple-weave polyester to keep warmth in. A wide design offers generous window coverage to keep drafts out, and antique-bronze grommets add a decorative touch. Because they’re also machine washable, they’re an easy-care fix for a chilly living room or bedroom.

Get the Best Home Fashion thermal curtains (various sizes and colors) at Amazon or The Home Depot.

With a bit of weatherstripping, small gaps around doors and windows don’t have to mean piling up under blankets and quilts—and thanks to its notable durability and simple installation, Yotache’s self-adhesive foam tape was an easy choice for Best Insulation Tape in our window insulation kits guide. This pick is available in a range of sizes, including a 2-pack with 26 feet total, which is enough for a couple of small windows or doors.

Get the Yotache foam weatherstripping at Amazon.

Our testing team’s favorite in our door draft stoppers guide, the Maxtid Adjustable Door Draft Stopper, installs in mere minutes—without tools or much effort. The adjustable design fits different door widths throughout your home, and the adhesive backing helps the stopper stay in place. There’s also a hook-and-loop fastening system that lets you detach the sleeve for quick cleanups. 

What our tester says: “Despite some online reviews saying this was difficult to install, it took me all of 5 minutes and was very straightforward. At first I thought it would be unattractive, but once it was installed, I barely noticed it.”—Amber Guetebier, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Maxtid door draft stopper at Amazon or Walmart.

Runner-Up in our tests of the best window insulation kits, the Duck Brand Max Strength Window Kit uses thick, puncture-resistant shrink film to block winter drafts and keep warm air in, helping you save energy. The film comes in one easy-to-install roll, so there’s no need to measure in advance: simply apply it, then cut it to size. And because it’s see-through, you get to keep your view while enjoying a draft-free home.

Get the Duck Brand window insulation kit at Amazon or Target.

With its ability to add an insulating layer to a compatible garage door without requiring special tools, the Reach Barrier 3009 kit earned the top award in our lineup of the best garage door insulation kits. Its eight easy-to-cut panels trap air between reflective polyethylene layers to help retain warmth in winter and deflect heat in summer, and in our tests, they also noticeably reduced noise.

Read our full review: Reach Barrier Garage Door Insulation Kit

What our tester says: “This kit is accessible for DIYers of any skill level and installs quickly. Plus, it’s lightweight enough to adhere to the door with stickers and to line the door without straining your garage door opener.” —Kathleen Corlett, Editor in Chief

Get the Reach Barrier garage door insulation kit at Amazon or The Home Depot.

Pull-down attic stairs are convenient, but the opening can break up an otherwise insulated attic floor. The Owens Corning attic stairway insulator closes off airflow between the attic and the main floor with R-10 fiberglass insulation and tough, highly reflective foil. The cover comes fully assembled and installs easily over existing insulation, helping improve energy efficiency and indoor comfort.

Get the Owens Corning attic stairway insulator at Lowe’s or The Home Depot.

When you’ve already paid to heat the water in your water heater, it’s a real shame to have that warmth leak back out through the tank walls. As the best overall pick on our water heater blankets guide, the Frost King SP60 wraps your tank in 3 inches of foil-faced fiberglass rated R-10 insulation, helping you save on energy bills. It fits water heaters up to 60 gallons and allows you to leave openings for vents, valves, and access panels.

Get the Frost King blanket at Amazon or Walmart.

As our top-ranked smart ceiling fan guide, the Dreo CLF712S offers reversible airflow that pushes warm air collected near the ceiling back down into your living space. Six speeds range from a gentle breeze to high winds, dimmable and colorful accent lighting add ambience, and in-app customization and automation make this fan a truly smart addition to your home.

Read our full review: Dreo Smart Ceiling Fan

What our tester says: “Even before powering it on, I could tell the Dreo had a more premium design than many of the other fans I had been working with.”—Paul Rankin, Product Reviews tester and writer 

Get the Dreo smart ceiling fan at Amazon or Dreo.

The GE Advanced Silicone 2 sealant, rated best for windows and doors in our exterior caulk guide, is a low-cost, high-impact fix for persistent drafts. The clear formula seals fixed joints around windows, doors, and trim, helping keep heat in and cold out. And since it’s also easy to apply and quick to dry, the job goes fast.

What our tester says: “This flexible caulk’s formula doesn’t just withstand expansion and contraction, it’s also mold- and mildew-resistant, which makes it perfect for caulking windows, doors, siding, attics, molding, and vents.”—Tom Scalisi, Product Reviews tester and writer 

Get the GE window and door sealant at The Home Depot or Walmart.

Topping our best smart thermostats guide, the fourth-generation Google Nest thermostat learns your temperature preferences and suggests schedule adjustments to help you save energy and stay comfortable. Its Adaptive Eco feature accounts for outdoor temperatures while you’re away, and the included room sensor helps manage hot and cold spots in the home. There’s even an app that lets you control it from anywhere, provides filter-change reminders based on actual use, and sends alerts if it detects potential heating or cooling issues.

Get the Google Nest thermostat at Amazon, Lowe’s, or The Home Depot.

 

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