"My old windows are so drafty - should I replace them?"

What few people know is that old windows were never intended to be airtight. They were intended to close, lock, and shed rain, and were an improvement over older designs. But there are ways to make them as airtight and energy efficient as new windows!

First you need to answer the question, "where are the drafts coming from?"
To answer this question, GIVE YOUR WINDOWS..."THE DRAFT TEST!"

FIRST TEST- Put your hand or an open flame near the pulleys; if there is air coming through them the source is through the exterior trim of your house, bypassing your storms, original windows, and allowing wind and moisture inside the walls!

SECOND TEST- Put your hand or an open flame near the edges of the original windows, where the sash (the part that goes up and down) meets the stationary trim; if there is a draft here, it is from your storms! Either the caulking which is supposed to seal the frame is dried up or they are "70's style", in which the panels to do not have any channels to keep the wind from blowing around their edges.