A fall window and door draft check for your Calgary home

Start with a room-by-room record

A fall walk-through gives you time to investigate an uncomfortable room before winter settles in. Bring a phone, a flashlight and a simple list of your windows and exterior doors. Work from inside the home, at floor level, and leave anything requiring ladders, trim removal or heavy lifting for a professional.

Give each opening a clear name, such as “upstairs bedroom, street side.” Record what you notice and photograph the whole opening before taking close-ups. The aim is to describe the problem accurately enough for a useful conversation with an installer.

Separate a draft from cold glass

On a cool, breezy day, close and latch each window normally. Notice whether you feel air moving around the opening, and where. Repeat at the sides and bottom of exterior doors. Avoid forcing a stiff handle or pressing hard on the glass.

A cold feeling beside a window does not prove that outside air is leaking through it. Natural Resources Canada explains that a person can lose radiant heat to cold glass even when the room is warm. Record whether the problem is a distinct moving draft, a cold surface or both.

• Note whether latching the window changes the draft.
• Look for daylight around a closed exterior door.
• Photograph missing, flattened or torn weatherstripping.
• Check whether the same problem affects one opening or several rooms.

Look at the seals, frame and hardware

Check accessible frames and sills for staining, peeling finishes, visible deterioration and damaged glass. Open and close each operable window once, if it moves safely. Note sticking, loose handles, a sash that will not stay in place or a latch that cannot engage. Tell the installer about these observations rather than deciding on a repair from appearance alone.

Weatherstripping seals the moving joints of windows and doors; caulking seals appropriate joints that stay still. NRCan makes this distinction in its air-barrier guidance. Ask the manufacturer or installer which replacement seal fits your product. Keep drainage openings clear and preserve windows needed for ventilation or emergency escape.

Record where the moisture appears

Be specific about condensation. Is it on the room-facing glass, outside, or trapped between the panes of a sealed glass unit? Note the room, time of day and whether the moisture appears after cooking or showering. Photographs taken while it is visible are more useful than a general report that the window gets wet.

NRCan explains that indoor condensation can form when moist air meets a cold surface. Indoor humidity and airflow matter as well as the window itself. Closed blinds, deep sills and nearby furniture can restrict air movement across the glass. Persistent moisture deserves investigation; replacement windows alone do not resolve every humidity problem.

Know when an installer should assess it

Contact a window or door professional when an opening will not close securely, glass is damaged, water is entering, the frame appears deteriorated or a draft persists despite normal operation. Mention an unusable escape window promptly. Ask whether the visit covers repair and adjustment options as well as replacement.

Fogging inside a sealed insulating glass unit can indicate a failed seal. NRCan identifies replacing the glass unit as a possible remedy, so ask whether that option fits your window before assuming the entire frame must go. If several rooms are uncomfortable and the source is unclear, an energy advisor can help investigate air leakage across the home.

Make the first conversation useful

Send your Calgary location, the number of affected openings, labelled photos and your notes. Include the approximate installation date and any warranty paperwork you have. Describe access constraints, such as a high exterior wall or a finished basement, so the company can explain what an assessment involves.

Ask for a written scope that distinguishes adjustments, seals, glass replacement and full replacement where relevant. Confirm who handles interior finishing, exterior sealing, disposal and any damage discovered during the work. Request product details and written warranty terms, and confirm availability directly. HireYYC can help you find businesses to contact; the assessment and work arrangements are made with the company.