ENERGY BOOMER

HOW TO ADD WINDOW INSULATION TO SAVE MONEY

Here are some inexpensive ways for you to add insulation to you existing windows that will save you money on your next heating or air conditioning bill.

 

Add clear shrink wrap on the inside

You can add a layer of clear plastic to the inside of the window. This seals off any air leaks and traps a layer of insulating air at the window. Being clear it still lets in light and lets you see out. I highly recommend the 3M Scotch Brand materials for cutting the energy waste at your windows.

It is easy. First sit down and read everything printed on the box. Remember, “if all else fails, read the directions.” The directions are an easy read and the illustrations are very helpful.

The first step of the job is to put their special two-sided sticky tape all around the window frame. What is special is that it sticks good, but you can peel it off easily too. If you put it on crooked, like I do, you can fix it without throwing it away and starting over.

Next, hang an over sized sheet of the clear plastic on the sticky tape.

Then the fun part, use a hair dryer to shrink it so it is tight and wrinkle free.

Last step is to cut away the excess plastic film around the window frame to make a neat looking job. Do not use heat shrink film outdoors; it is made for indoor use only.

 

Bubble Wrap your window to save money

You can use bubble wrap in place of the expensive clear shrink-wrap. Bubble wrap lets light in, but you can’t see through it clearly.

When you use bubble wrap, those little bubbles act as additional insulation. The bubble wrap obscures sight through the window like frosted glass does. Bubble wrap is good for bathroom windows or other windows where you want more privacy.

If you have been doing your fair share of online shopping you may already have a supply in those old packing boxes in your garage. For bigger windows, you may have to buy some from a packaging supply store or at your favorite discount store.

You can tape it to your window frames, either indoors or out. I seal the edges of the bubble wrap with clear packaging tape before I put it up.

Then I use double-sided Scotch Brand tape from 3M to hold it to the window frame.

The Scotch Brand tape will come off in the spring with no damage to the window frame. Leave the bottom two corners loose from the window frame to allow moisture to escape.

 

Space Blankets save money by reflecting heat where you want it

Space blankets are also called emergency blankets or survival blankets. They are an item that should be in your car first aid kit.

Space blankets are made of tough highly reflective Mylar plastic.

They are used to reflect 90% of a person’s body heat back to them.

They are available for about $1 each in a size of about 5 feet by 7 feet, just right for wrapping up one person or one window.

Why use them on your windows? They make a good window covering because they will reflect 90% of your home heat back inside.

If you have a window, where seeing out or having light coming in is not an important factor, you can cover it with a space blanket. Bathroom or basement windows are possibilities for this window treatment. I use clear packaging tape to hold the space blanket material to the outer edges of the window frame.

If you want daylight and the view, you can stick the space blanket material to the inside surface of a window blind. Roll it up during the day and roll it down to reflect heat back inside at night.

In the hot weather sticking the reflective Mylar to the outside of your roll up blinds will reflect heat from the sun back out to save on air conditioning.

If you are making your own window quilts, you can add a layer of space blanket material to make a super energy saver window covering. Click here for a selection of space blankets.

 

Window Quilts add insulation and look creative

When our children were young, we lived in a 100-year-old house in

Northern Michigan

. This beautiful old house had tall windows that let in a lot of light and fresh air in warm weather.

They also made some rooms hard to heat. Putting up a window quilt in our son’s bedroom, increased the room temperature about ten degrees.

The following Link takes you to my wife’s step-by-step instructions on how to make window quilts: How to Make Energy Saving Window Quilts

If you don’t have time to make window quilts, do what our daughter, does hang spare blankets to cover the windows at night.

 

Energy Saving Window Treatments

Heavy full-length curtains help also. In the movies, we see heavy drapes at the castle windows. They were there to keep the cold out not just for show.

Heavy floor length drapes add insulation and stop the draft caused by cold air at the window sinking to the floor.

by Birney Summers – 2009 All Rights Reserved

Click here for a free money saving report written by the Energy Boomer titled HOW SAVE MONEY ON YOUR NEXT HEATING BILL

Related Posts:

EASY ADD ON STORM WINDOWS FROM THE INSIDE

EASY ADD ON STORM WINDOWS FROM THE OUTSIDE

SAVE ENERGY BY SHIELDING YOUR BASEMENT WINDOWS

.

Click here to return to Energy Boomer home page

What to look for in New Energy Saving Home Windows

In climates with a significant heating season, windows have represented a major source of unwanted heat loss, discomfort, and condensation problems. In recent years, windows have undergone a technological revolution. It is now possible to have lower heat loss, less air leakage, and warmer window surfaces that improve comfort and minimize condensation.

 

Winter Thermal Comfort
An older window with a lower glass temperature feels colder because more heat is radiated from a person's body to the window. Cold glass can also create uncomfortable drafts as air next to the window is cooled and drops to the floor. This sets up an air movement pattern that feels drafty and accelerates heat loss.

 

High performance windows with lower U-factors will result in a higher interior window temperature in winter and thus greater comfort. Proper installation along with weather-stripping will also improve comfort by reducing cold air leakage.

 

Look for the following features when buying new windows:

 

Windows

•       Double-pane 2x more efficient than single
•       Gas-filled (Argon) centers improves performance 6-9%
•       Emissivity – “Low-E” glass can cut thermal radiation in half.
•       Details – thermal breaks, etc.         

Doors – similar to windows, details: Thermal breaks, core insulation for metal doors.

Raise your hand if you don't know what a thermal break is.

If the inside frame and the outside frame are both made of aluminum the two need to be kept apart by a material that will slow the flow of heat. Plastic is usually used for this.

Look for Efficient Window Properties on the NFRC Label

 

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) has developed a window rating system based on whole window product performance (www.nfrc.org). The NFRC label provides the only reliable way to determine energy efficient properties and to compare products. The NFRC label appears on all fenestration products that are part of the ENERGY STAR program.

 

The following terms which indicate the overall performance for well-made, high performance windows:

 

• U-Factor - The rate of heat loss is indicated in terms of the U-factor (U-value) of a window assembly. The insulating value is indicated by the R-value which is the inverse of the U-value. The lower the U-factor, the greater a window’s resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating value.
• Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) - The SHGC is the fraction of incident solar radiation admitted through a window. SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The lower a window’s solar heat gain coefficient, the less solar heat it transmits.
• Visible Transmittance (VT) - The visible transmittance (VT) is an optical property that indicates the amount of visible light transmitted. The NFRC’s VT is a whole window rating and includes the impact of the frame which does not transmit any visible light. While VT theoretically varies between 0 and 1, most values are between 0.3 and 0.8. The higher the VT, the more light is transmitted. A high VT is desirable to maximize daylight.
• Air Leakage (AL) - Heat loss and gain occur by infiltration through cracks in the window assembly. Air leakage is expressed in cubic feet of air passing through a square foot of window area. The lower the AL, the less air will pass through cracks in the assembly.

If you enjoyed this post, then click here to subscribe to the Energy Boomer Newsletter.

Related Posts:

EASY ADD ON STORM WINDOWS FROM THE INSIDE

EASY ADD ON STORM WINDOWS FROM THE OUTSIDE

HOW TO MAKE ENERGY SAVING WINDOW QUILTS

Click here to return to Energy Boomer home page

Save Money with a Space Blanket on Your Windows

Space blankets are also called emergency blankets or survival blankets. They are an item that should be in your car first aid kit.

Space blankets are made of tough highly reflective Mylar plastic. They are used to reflect 90% of a person’s body heat back to them.

They are available for about $1 each in a size of about 5 feet by 7 feet, just right for wrapping up one person or one window.

Why use them on your windows.

They make a good window covering because they will reflect 90% of your home heat back inside.

If you have a window, where seeing out or having light coming in is not an important factor, you can cover it with a space blanket. Bathroom or basement windows are possibilities for this window treatment. I use clear packaging tape to hold the space blanket material to the outer edges of the window frame.

If you want daylight and the view, you can stick the space blanket material to the inside surface of a window blind. Roll it up during the day and roll it down to reflect heat back inside at night.

In the hot weather sticking the reflective Mylar to the out side of your roll up blinds will reflect heat from the sun back out to save on air conditioning.

If you are making your own window quilts, you can add a layer of space blanket material to make a supper energy saver window covering.

Click here for a selection of space blankets.

If you enjoyed this post, then make sure you subscribe to my RSS Feed or to the ENERGY BOOMER by email.

Click here for a free money saving report titled HOW SAVE MONEY ON YOUR NEXT HEATING BILL

Related Posts:

BUBBLE WRAP YOUR WINDOWS TO SAVE MONEY

HOW TO MAKE ENERGY SAVING WINDOW QUILTS

EASY ADD ON STORM WINDOWS FROM THE INSIDE

Click here to return to Energy Boomer home page

SAVE ENERGY BY PLUGGING YOUR BASEMENT WINDOWS

When we lived at Kalamazoo Michigan, our house had a basement bedroom that my son used. It was cold and damp. We solved the cold problem by making removable window plugs from 2-inch thick foam board.

The windows were recessed into the cement wall of the basement. The opening was tapered just a little. By carving a plug for the window opening out of two-inch thick insulation board, we stopped the cold draft. The foam board pushed into place sealed the window opening and insulated it too.

Yes, we lost the benefit of the little bit of light that might have come in through the windows. The savings in heat and comfort by far out weighted the loss of light. My son was in his bat cave stage at the time and did not want light any way.

As I remember it, the windows were covered with posters of Star Wars movies, hiding the foam plugs from view.

When spring arrived, the foam plugs were easy to remove.

Try it you’ll like it.

Click here for a free money saving report titled HOW SAVE MONEY ON YOUR NEXT HEATING BILL

If you enjoyed this post, then make sure you subscribe to my RSS Feed or to the ENERGY BOOMER by email.

Related Posts:

SAVE ENERGY BY SHIELDING YOUR BASEMENT WINDOWS

BUBBLE WRAP YOUR WINDOWS TO SAVE MONEY

HOW TO MAKE ENERGY SAVING WINDOW QUILTS

Click here to return to Energy Boomer home page

SAVE ENERGY BY SHIELDING YOUR BASEMENT WINDOWS

Mark this one down as another of those happy accidental discoveries. While living in a rental home we had a leaky basement window. The window leaked every time it rained or when snow melted off the roof. The window should not have leaked because it was located in a sheltered corner.

But as usual, one problem leads to another. The rain gutter above the window leaked making a drip right in front of the window. The dripping water splattered on the cement splashing against the window. So, the window leaked. My evil landlord would not repair the gutter or the window.

To most folks the window leak was just a drip down the basement wall but to me it was a crisis. I had great plans for a model railroad along that particular wall. The plans for my miniature railroad empire did not include a waterfall.

One day as I was strolling through my favorite building supply store I tripped over one of those clear plastic shields that are made to cover basement window wells. These pesky plastic pieces had spilled out into the walkway just to catch my attention. Well I had a basement window problem and here was the answer right at me feet so to speak. Clearance sale and marked down the sign said. Sold I said.

As I was pushing the clear plastic water shield into place, I thought this also shields the window from the cold winter wind. I was extra careful getting it positioned just right. I added some decorative garden weights to hold it in place. They are other wise known as rocks.

The window stopped leaking and the shield deflects the attack of wind, snow and icicles to help keep the house warm.

Clear plastic shields can be used to keep leaves and stuff out of your basement window wells. They also save energy by letting light in and shielding the window from the cold weather.

Make sure you get a window well cover that is strong enough that some big kid, like me, can jump up and down on it with out falling into the window well.

Click here for a selection of basement window well covers.

If you enjoyed this post, then make sure you subscribe to my RSS Feed or to the ENERGY BOOMER by email.

Click here for a free money saving report titled HOW SAVE MONEY ON YOUR NEXT HEATING BILL

Related Posts:

BUBBLE WRAP YOUR WINDOWS TO SAVE MONEY

HOW TO MAKE ENERGY SAVING WINDOW QUILTS

WINTER HOLIDAY GIFT SUGGESTIONS

Click here to return to Energy Boomer home page

CUT HEATING BILLS ONE PANE AT A TIME

Here is an energy saving project that your children can help with. Stick bubble wrap on your windows to keep the heat in the house.

Cut a piece of bubble wrap the same size as the glass in your windows. Wet the glass with a spray of water or window cleaner and apply the bubble wrap to the glass. Slide it around until it is positioned right and push the bubble wrap tight to the glass. It should stick in place just fine. Have a paper towel ready to wipe up the excess liquid.

If it falls off try again a little wetter. The bubbles work like suction cups to hold on to the window glass.

It may take some time to cut and stick bubble wrap to the windows, one pane at a time, but it makes a good project to recycle bubble wrap and have fun working together.

You are teaching by doing both energy conservation and recycling. Have everyone lay their hand on a bare window glass and then on a bubble wrapped window to feel the difference. It is a good time to do it when you have window cleaner and paper towels already handy.

If you enjoyed this post, then make sure you subscribe to my RSS Feed or to the ENERGY BOOMER by email.

Related Posts:

BUBBLE WRAP YOUR WINDOWS TO SAVE MONEY

HOW TO MAKE ENERGY SAVING WINDOW QUILTS

EASY ADD ON STORM WINDOWS FROM THE INSIDE

Click here to return to Energy Boomer home page

SAVE ENERGY WITH WINDOW FILM OR PLASTIC SHEETING

Based on some of the questions that I have been getting there seems to be some confusion about using window film or clear poly or vinyl plastic sheeting to save energy at windows.

Window Film First

To me window film is the thin reflective film that is applied directly to the window glass. It is the shiny stuff intended to reduce your air conditioning bill in the summer time. It does add a little extra thickness to the window glass so it slows down the heat conducted through the glass a tiny bit. The main reason it is used is to reflect the radiation from the sun away from your windows rather than letting all the heat pass through the clear glass.

It is not intended to help you in the heating season. It is most often used in office buildings because most office buildings need to be air-conditioned all year round. All that heat from office machines, pots of hot coffee and lighting makes a lot of hot air. I think that most of the hot air comes from all the bosses talking at once.

For wintertime, home use the tiny extra thickness helps to slow the heat flowing out through the glass. A little heat radiation is reflected back inside during the heating season but the energy savings is very small.

The main value for reflective insulating window film in the wintertime is to give the sales folks another point to talk about. It may reduce the heat flow through the window by 10%, not a real value for the money. Reflective window film is a good value in the summer on the sunny sides of the house but not so good in the winter.

Plastic Sheeting for Windows

Clear vinyl or polyethylene plastic sheeting, vis-queen, painters drop cloth plastic sheets or similar materials are useful for make shift storm windows on the outside of the house. The thicker the plastic is the better it will hold up to the weather. They are expected to last only one or two heating seasons and are an inexpensive substitute for real storm windows. The stuff sold in kits may be called film because it is thinner than the bulk roll material you buy at your hardware store.

Tape it to the window frame either with clear packaging tape or with ugly duct tape. A neater job can be done using double-sided 3m Scotch Brand tape. Put the tape all around the window frame. Stretch the plastic sheeting flat as you put it on and trim the excess away with a razor knife. Easy, fast and inexpensive. Not so nice for appearance.

Some folks leave the bottom two corners unsealed to allow moisture to escape from the space between the window and the plastic.

Do not use the heat shrink type of clear plastic sheeting on the outside of the windows; it is not made to take the weather.

Do use the heat shrink type of clear plastic sheeting on the inside of the windows. It can make a neat inside storm window. Working from the inside is safer than using a ladder on the second story windows. Again, use the double-sided 3m Scotch Brand tape. It makes a neat job of it and it will peal off cleanly in the spring.

After you tape it in place use a hair dryer to stretch it drum tight with no wrinkles. The heat shrink plastic for indoor use is very clear and stays clear. Easy to use even if you put the job off too long and it is snowing outdoors.

Leave a few inches unsealed by tape at the bottom in a couple of places to allow moisture to escape. If you seal it, completely it will fog up and you may get some interesting frost designs.

Click here for window insulation kits

If you enjoyed this post, then make sure you subscribe to my RSS Feed or to the ENERGY BOOMER by email.

Related Posts:

BUBBLE WRAP YOUR WINDOWS TO SAVE MONEY

HOW TO MAKE ENERGY SAVING WINDOW QUILTS

EASY ADD ON STORM WINDOWS FROM THE INSIDE

EASY ADD ON STORM WINDOWS FROM THE OUTSIDE

Click here to return to Energy Boomer home page

BUBBLE WRAP YOUR WINDOWS TO SAVE MONEY

Looking for a cheap way to stop cold air from creeping in at your windows? Try covering them with bubble wrap. You know the stuff that is intended to pad breakables for shipment.

Yes the stuff that you usually squeeze the bubbles to make them pop. I know some folks that are compulsive bubble poppers. With them destroying bubble wrap is almost an addiction.

If you have been doing your fair share of online shopping you may already have a supply in those old packing boxes in your garage. For bigger windows, you may have to buy some from a packaging supply store or at your favorite discount store.

Just tape it to your window frames either inside or out. I seal the edges of the bubble wrap with clear packaging tape before I put it up. Then I use double-sided Scotch Brand tape from 3M to hold it to the window frame. The Scotch Brand tape will come off in the spring with no damage to the window frame. Leave the bottom two corners loose from the window frame to allow moisture to escape.

Bubble wrap lets light in but insulates the window rather well.

Yes it has an exciting modern art appearance that I do not want to revel to just anyone. I use it on the inside of my basement windows so only very special invited guests get to see it.

You folks who are more daring or who live in an artsy community may want to bubble wrap the outside of all your windows. Just tell your neighbors that it is a visual protest against the big petroleum abusing plastic making corporations or that you are demonstrating your commitment to recycle as much as possible. They will be green with envy.

I must admit that I borrowed this idea from my new friends at the Frugal Village Forum.

Click here for bubble wrap from Amazon

If you enjoyed this post, then make sure you subscribe to my RSS Feed or to the ENERGY BOOMER by email.

Related Posts:

HOW TO MAKE ENERGY SAVING WINDOW QUILTS

EASY ADD ON STORM WINDOWS FROM THE INSIDE

EASY ADD ON STORM WINDOWS FROM THE OUTSIDE

Click here to return to Energy Boomer home page

HOW TO MAKE ENERGY SAVING WINDOW QUILTS

When our children were young, we lived in a 100-year-old house in Northern Michigan. This beautiful old house had tall windows that let in a lot of light and fresh air in warm weather. The also made some rooms hard to heat. Putting up a window quilt in our son’s bedroom, increased the room temperature about ten degrees.

The following are my wife’s step-by-step instructions:

1. Measure the window width to the outer edges of the frame. Measure from the windowsill up to the top of the frame. You may want it a little longer to tuck in at the windowsill. Curtain rod hardware may limit how wide the quilt can be at top of the frame. If in doubt, make it your window quilt a little over size.

2. Cut the solid light color fabric for the backing. Make it four inches bigger on each side, top and bottom. That means that all edges will have four inches of extra fabric. The backing is the side that faces the window glass. It should be an already bleached light color or the sun shining on it will bleach making colors fade.

3. The middle layer needs to be good insulation and material that will not sag. Flannel, fleece or flat needle punch quilt batting is recommended. Do not use regular, ploy-fill, quilt batting or it will shift downward. You do not want the filler to sag leaving no insulation at the top and too much at the bottom.

4. Clear a space to work on the floor or on a large table. Place the middle layer over the backing.

5. Cut a piece of fabric for the top that will be on the inside of the room. Cut this the width and length to match the measurements that you took in step one above.

6. Add the top layer to the backing and filler that you laid out in step 4. Pin the three layers together with big safety pins. Machine stitch across the layers several times in a grid pattern to hold all in place.

7. Fold the excess backing fabric over to the front of the window quilt on all sides. Turn edges under (like a hem). Stitch all the edges down.

8. To attach the quilt to the window your can just tack it to the window using tacks and a hammer or use Velcro strips at top, bottom and sides. The self-stick Velcro did not hold up well for us we ended up sewing the Velcro to the quilt and tracking or stapling it to the wood window frame. Hang quilt on window starting at the top and smoothing on down to ensure a snug fit.

If you wish to allow light in during the day, you can simply roll the quilt up to half sash and tuck it into the window, then when you need it simply unroll again.

Supplies needed: Backing; White or unbleached muslin fabric Filler; Flannel, an old blanket, fleece or flat needle punch quilt batting Topping fabric to suit you décor Thread Sewing machine Velcro or other fasteners

The Energy Boomer's comments:

These simple window quilts are easy to make and will reduce your heating bills.

Adding a layer of reflective material like Radiant Barrier film would make the window quilts more effective.

I’ve been looking at the 3M Brand of picture hanging strips. They are easy to install and easy to remove with out leaving a mark. I think they would make great window quilt hangers.

It is OK to use pre-quilted material that is available in some fabric stores. Just bind the edges and go with it. The layers of quilting make better insulation than a single heavy layer like a blanket.

Related Posts:

EASY ADD ON STORM WINDOWS FROM THE INSIDE

EASY ADD ON STORM WINDOWS FROM THE OUTSIDE

SAVE ENERGY STOP KILLING SNOWFLAKES WITH YOUR BUG ZAPPER

Click here to return to Energy Boomer home page

EASY ADD ON STORM WINDOWS FROM THE INSIDE

You can easily reduce the heat loss or gain from your windows by adding a clear plastic film to the inside. It will help on your energy bill both summer and winter. Yes, use it in air conditioning season and in the heating season.

I highly recommend the 3M Scotch Brand materials for cutting the energy waste at your windows. 3M has long been the champion maker of glues and sticky stuff that works great for the job that it is made for. Their kits for adding clear plastic film to the inside of windows are the best on the market.

Why work on the inside?

You can put clear vinyl plastic film on the out side. Click here to read how to make EASY ADD ON STORM WINDOWS FROM THE OUTSIDE. Most folks would prefer working indoors and if you put the job off too long, the weather is nicer inside. From a safety point of view, I would suggest that you work second story windows from the inside. You avoid working off a tall ladder, leaned against the slippery plastic siding, above those thorny rose bushes.

How easy is it?

It is easy. First sit down and read everything printed on the box. Remember, "if all else fails, read the directions." The directions are an easy read and the illustrations are very helpful.

1. The first step of the job is to put their special two-sided sticky tape all around the window frame. What is special is that it sticks good, but you can peel it off easily too. If you put it on crooked, like I do, you can fix it with out throwing it away and starting over.

2. Next, hang an over sized sheet of the clear plastic on the sticky tape.

3. Then the fun part, use a hair dryer to shrink it so it is tight and wrinkle free.

4. Last step is to cut away the excess plastic film around the window frame to make a neat looking job.

Recycle it

The wonderful 3M sticky tape is easy to peel off the window frame with out damaging the finish. You can not reuse the tape, but you can reuse the clear plastic film. If you are more organized than I am about putting stuff away where you can find it, use it again.

Do not use the heat shrink film outdoors; it is made for indoor use only.

Here is a source for the materials that you will need:

Click here for Window insulation kits from Amazon.

If you enjoyed this post, then make sure you subscribe to my RSS Feed or to the ENERGY BOOMER by email.

Related Posts:

HAVE YOU HEARD THE ONE ABOUT WINDOWS?

QUILTED WINDOWS SAVE ENERGY

Weather-strip now to Save on Your Heating Bill

Click here to return to Energy Boomer home page

EASY ADD ON STORM WINDOWS FROM THE OUTSIDE

You can easily reduce the heat loss or gain from your windows by adding a clear vinyl film to the outside. It will help cut your energy bill both summer and winter. Yes, use it in air conditioning season and in the heating season.

I highly recommend the 3M Scotch Brand double side tape for cutting the energy waste at your windows. 3M has long been the champion maker of glues and sticky stuff that works great for the job that it is made for.

Kits for adding clear vinyl film to the outside of windows are available like this one from Frost King. Or, do like I did and buy the 3M tape and buy the vinyl sheet stock in bulk rolls where you get the best price.

Why work on the outside?

Working in the outside on those easy to reach ground floor or basement windows gets you outdoors and away from the telephone.

Some times, you get lucky and can do the work inside putting the clear vinyl film on the outside. Huh, how’s that again you ask?

I once owned a house in Michigan that had removable aluminum frame screens but no storms windows to replace them. On our first autumn there I did not have the time or cash to have storm windows made for the house.

To make effective storm windows I use the two-sided tape from 3M and clear vinyl film. I brought the screens into our worktable, covered each screen with the clear vinyl plastic, and put them back up as storm windows. They were a tight fit because I covered the screen frame and did the taping in the inside face of the frame so I could pull the plastic tight as I went along.

I did about ten windows that way working entirely from inside the house. Half were second story windows. I was lucky that I could take down and put up the screens working from the inside.

How easy is it?

The textbook way is easy. First sit down and read everything printed on the 3M box. Remember, “if all else fails, read the directions.” The directions are an easy read and the illustrations are very helpful.

1. The first step of the job is to put their special two-sided sticky tape around the outside of the window frame. Leave a gap in the tape at the bottom corners of the frame so water vapor can get out. What is special about the tape is that it sticks good, but you can peel it off easily too. If you put it on crooked, like I do, you can fix it with out throwing it away and starting over.

2. Next, hang an over sized piece of the clear vinyl on the sticky tape. Work to keep the plastic wrinkle free and flat. If it is not right, peel it off and try again. Vinyl plastic film will take the weather exposure but it does not heat shrink to get out the wrinkles.

3. Last step is to cut away the excess plastic film around the window frame to make a neat looking job.

Recycle it

The wonderful 3M sticky tape is easy to peel off the window frame with out damaging the finish. You can not reuse the tape, but you can reuse the clear plastic film. Label each piece so you know which window it fits and put away where you can find it, use it again.

The clear vinyl can be use indoors or out.

If you enjoyed this post, then make sure you subscribe to my RSS Feed or to the ENERGY BOOMER by email.

Related Posts:

QUILTED WINDOWS SAVE ENERGY

HAVE YOU HEARD THE ONE ABOUT WINDOWS?

Weather-strip now to Save on Your Heating Bill

Click here to return to Energy Boomer home page

HAVE YOU HEARD THE ONE ABOUT WINDOWS?

A friend of mine called to brag about the money they saved with their new windows. The story started with….

“Last year I replaced all the windows in my house with those expensive double pane energy-efficient kind. Then, this week I got a call from the contractor who installed them. He was complaining that the work had been completed a whole year ago and I still hadn't paid for them. So, I told him just what his fast talking sales guy had told me last year.... namely, that in ONE YEAR these windows would pay for themselves! Helllooooo? It's been a year! There was only silence at the other end of the line.”

If you can’t afford to work a deal like my friend use the storm windows that you do have. The self storing aluminum frame storm windows are not the best but they are safer than using a ladder to put on second story storm windows. Every layer of glass helps to keep the heat in so use them.

If you don’t have storm windows your friendly hardware store or building supply can help with clear plastic film to convert window screens into storm windows for the winter.

Lock your windows closed. On double hung windows if the lock doesn’t line up it means that either the top sash as slid down a little or the bottom sash isn’t down tight. On most types of windows the lock helps to squeeze the window closed so lock them.

You may want to add a layer of savings on some of your windows with plastic film. Basement windows and back entry way windows may be good candidates for this treatment. It may not look great but it will help save on the heating bill. When spring arrives peel them off carefully so they can be recycled next fall. 3M Scotch brand and others make good easy to use supplies for this job. You can use clear 4 mil thick vinyl on the outside or clear heat shrink plastic film on the inside.

At work during the heating season windows help us stay in business only when they are closed.

Keeping them closed saves on the air conditioning bill too.

Click here for a free money saving report titled HOW SAVE MONEY ON YOUR NEXT HEATING BILL

If you enjoyed this post, then make sure you subscribe to my RSS Feed or the ENERGY BOOMER by email.

Related Posts:

MY NEW STORM DOOR

POLLUTE LESS AND SAVE MONEY

Click here to return to Energy Boomer home page

QUILTED WINDOWS SAVE ENERGY

Windows are great for letting the sun shine in during the day. The best and cheapest light is sunlight. I think our cat is solar powered. He can always find a sunny spot to sleep.

At night, even the best windows let heat escape. Windows are a big heat loss problem on winter nights. They waste energy even after you have done the storm window thing and weather sealed and caulked.

What more can you do working from the inside to keep the heat in?

At our house, we use window quilts on the coldest nights. My wife makes quilts that we hang or Velcro to the window frame to keep us warm on freezing winter nights.

You can use store bought pre-quilted material. The kind with a layer of reflective plastic vapor barrier works best. Or, you can make your own window quilts so they match the décor of your home. They all look good to me when the lights are out. (A tip from the expert; use already bleached fabric on the side that gets the sunshine or the sun will bleach it for you.)

Take the window quilts down in the morning to enjoy the snowy scenery. If you want to sleep in leave them up to muffle the noise of snow blowers and plows. Window quilts work by adding insulation and trapping the air that is next to the glass.

Tight fitting window blinds help by trapping a layer of air at the window.

Heavy full-length curtains help also. In the movies, we see heavy drapes at the castle windows. They were there to keep the cold out not just for show. Heavy floor length drapes add insulation and stop the draft caused by cold air at the window sinking to the floor.

At work, windows help us stay in business during the heating and air conditioning seasons when they are tightly closed. When you see windows that are not completely closed or if there is cracked or broken glass take action to get it fixed.

If you enjoyed this post, then make sure you subscribe to my RSS Feed or to the ENERGY BOOMER by email.

Click here for Quilts from Amazon

Related Posts

9 WAYS FOR A QUILTER TO SAVE ENERGY

HAVE YOU HEARD THE ONE ABOUT WINDOWS?

MY NEW STORM DOOR

GREEN ENERGY SAVING GRASSHOPPER

Click here to return to Energy Boomer home page