Yikes, talk about an Indian Summer! Even though it’s been climate-changingly toasty this past week, the Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a nasty winter — and it’s right around the corner. So last weekend I got my housemate Jack to help me out with winterizing our windows, and we actually succeeded in making it through the project without any major accidents, spills, or mistakes!
Just kidding. How much fun would it be to read about a totally successful green DIY project? Plus you’d probably all think your buddy Dave had been kidnapped by ultra-savvy eco dude Paul from down the block (jerk).
Anyways, I thought the project was going to be simple enough: we’d use a quick test to figure out where the leakiest windows were, then use some caulk to seal them up.
The test involves a hair dryer and a candle. Jack went outside with an extension cord and a hair dryer we borrowed from his sister. I stood inside with the candle. Jack pointed the hair dryer at the edges of the windows and I watched the candle to see where it flickered, meaning air was sneaking through, and I’d mark that spot with a post-it note.
Watching the candle is the key tactic here, folks.
We got through a few windows, piece of cake. But then we were testing my bedroom windows and my cats Button and Bo were hanging out in there. Anyone who knows me knows I love my cats. And they were pretending to be insane cat ninjas in my closet. For a second, my mind wandered… “how many people would watch this YouTube video?”
And that’s when I smelled smoke. Jack started banging on the window shouting, “Dave, the curtain! DAVE!”
I blew out the candle, grabbed the nearest blanket, and started swatting at the flaming curtain. Thankfully the fire hadn’t spread too far and I was able to stop it. But woah. That $%*! got real, and fast.
Lesson learned! Winterizing your house is a great idea, but not if you burn it down along the way.
The easiest part of the whole project was actually caulking the gaps we found. Just make sure the spot you want to caulk is clean first, use 100% silicone caulk, and make sure it ends up nice and smooth. There you have it! One totally weatherproof bachelor pad ready for whatever winter Mama Nature has to offer.
Photo: Murney
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