I’m still not convinced thick curtains aren’t plotting against me, though...
Curtains can definitely be sneaky. If they’re covering a vent or even just hanging too close, they’ll trap the warm air between the window and the fabric, instead of letting it circulate. I had to pin mine back during winter—made a bigger difference than I expected. Also, check for drafts around windows. Even thick curtains can’t fix a leaky seal, and sometimes they just hide the problem. Small changes, big impact.
Even thick curtains can’t fix a leaky seal, and sometimes they just hide the problem.
That’s the truth. I used to think my heavy curtains were doing me a favor, but turns out they were just hiding a drafty window that was basically letting in a mini-arctic breeze every night. I swear, my bedroom felt like a walk-in fridge while the living room was roasting. Ended up sticking some weatherstripping around the window and it made a world of difference—plus, now the curtains aren’t getting all the blame.
Also, I’m convinced thick curtains have a secret life. They collect dust, block out sunlight when you actually want it, and somehow always manage to tangle themselves up with the cat. But yeah, pinning them back or even swapping them for lighter ones in spring helped even out the temps for me. Sometimes it’s the little tweaks that make your place feel less like a climate experiment gone wrong.
Funny you mention weatherstripping—I once tried the “draft snake” thing under my window, but it just ended up as a chew toy for the dog. Did you check for any moisture or mold around the seal before fixing it? Sometimes those hidden leaks can cause bigger headaches down the line. I always worry about what’s going on behind the scenes, you know? Curtains are great, but if there’s rot or damp, that’s a whole other mess.
Did you check for any moisture or mold around the seal before fixing it? Sometimes those hidden leaks can cause bigger headaches down the line.
That’s exactly what I worry about too. It’s wild how a tiny draft can be a sign of something much bigger lurking in the walls. I once thought I was just dealing with a cold spot near the floor, but when I pulled back the baseboard, there was this whole patch of fuzzy green that had been hiding out for who knows how long. Ended up ripping out half the trim to get it all cleaned up.
I do agree curtains help, but they’re really just a band-aid if there’s actual moisture sneaking in. Have you ever tried one of those humidity meters? They’re cheap and surprisingly helpful for figuring out if you’ve got a dampness issue before it turns into full-on rot.
Draft snakes are cute in theory (minus the dog factor), but I found they just move the problem around. If air’s getting through, so can water, bugs, whatever else is out there... Kind of makes me rethink how “eco-friendly” some of these quick fixes actually are.
Sometimes I wonder if all these little hacks—weatherstripping, thick curtains, door sweeps—are just masking bigger problems we should actually be fixing at the source. Or maybe that’s just me overthinking it after one too many YouTube rabbit holes about home energy loss.
Either way, it’s definitely worth poking around behind the scenes every now and then. Last time I did, I found a whole spider metropolis living in my window frame. Not exactly energy-related, but still not what you want to discover right before bed.
Humidity meters are useful, but I’d also check for any signs of leaks in the plumbing—sometimes it’s not just outside moisture. Have you noticed any water stains or soft spots around the baseboards or under windows? That’s usually a giveaway something’s off behind the scenes.
