I tried this easy hack to check for drafts in my home and keep the cold out — all you need is a sheet of paper

As freezing temperatures persist and winter storms still affect many areas of the United States, keeping your home warm and comfortable this season is essential. This also means knowing how to winterize your home, saving you a fortune on utility bills.

To conserve energy this season, experts are urging homeowners to immediately inspect their windows and door seals. Essentially, worn or cracked rubber seals over time will create gaps that will lead to heat loss and let in the bitter chill. But how do you know if your windows or doors are in dire need of insulation?

Surprisingly, there is a clever trick that will instantly detect drafts in your home. What’s more, it’s simple, takes seconds to do, and involves nothing more than a sheet of paper.

What is the ‘paper test’?

As the name suggests, you simply take a piece of paper to use as a tool to check the resistance of window or door seals. "To see if your seals are actually doing their job, try the paper test," states Winston Osborne, Technical Director at Atlas Aluminium.

"Simply close your window or door on a sheet of paper. If you can pull that paper out without any resistance, your seals have likely perished or flattened over time.”

So what can you do to upgrade your windows or doors insulation? “When they fail, you do not necessarily need a whole new window, as you can easily buy replacement rubber gaskets online,” advises Osborne.

“All you need to do is pull the old brittle seal out of its groove and press a new arrowhead-shaped gasket into the track with your thumb. You will feel it click into place, and that simple swap restores the original thermal rating of the window. Using fresh EPDM rubber creates a flexible airtight barrier that makes sure you aren’t losing up to a third of your room's heat through one failed strip."

How to do the ‘paper test’ trick

With this in mind (and armed with my sheet of paper), I went around my home to inspect for rogue gaps in my interior doors. Each time I pulled on the paper, I could feel a tight resistance holding it in place, which indicates I have good insulation (thankfully).

However, if you’re still feeling the chill around your windows, check out these cheap ways to weatherize your windows and keep the cold out. Not only will these tips help keep you warm and toasty, but will ensure that you don't have rising heating bills too.

Randall Manufacturing Co Door Sweeps: $29 at Amazon

These aluminium and vinyl brush sweeps are designed for gaps up to 1 inch deep on external doors, helping to keep in heat and seal off dirt and dust. The door sweeps are designed with pre-drilled holes and accompanying screws to make installation easy.

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Similarly, if you’re tackling drafts from the bottom of your exterior doors, you can install a door seal or sweep to block out the chill. Plus, these also help to block out dirt and debris that can be blown indoors.

In any case, always keep a piece of paper lying around, as you’ll never know when it will come in handy this winter.

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