Honeycomb shades can fix a drafty windowsill

The Boston Globe's handyman, Peter Hotton, recently addressed the problem of a draft that seemed to circulate around windows which didn't appear to be leaking any air from the outdoors.

While he admits that a temporary solution to the problem is to wad newspapers around the windowsill to keep it insulated, he also advises that drafts might be a sign that windows can be too tight.

Hotton claims that drafts by the windows can be due to air that gets warmed by heating, floats by the window wall and cools off in the process, just because of its proximity to the window. Before taking any drastic steps, however, he says that it is wise to determine if the draft is actually due to this process.

To find out whether or not the window is too tight, buy flexible, rope caulk and press it along the bottom of the window. If this doesn't stop the draft, Hotton suggests that the window may be tight and the only ways to avoid a draft are to sit somewhere else or hang window treatments.

Honeycomb cellular shades can be ideal for mysterious drafts, whether a window is loose or tight, because they can prevent heat from escaping a home and insulate windows during the cooler months of the year.