Bubble wrap is often used to insulate greenhouse windows in the winter, but it also seems to work fine for windows in the house. You can use it with or without regular or insulating window shades. It also works for windows of irregular shape, which can be difficult to find insulating shades for.
On double glazed windows, bubble wrap insulation does have some effect - up to 20% improvement in heat loss. By insulating single glazed window pane with bubblewrap, you can reduce up to 50% of heat loss. It is easy and fun to install, a few minutes per window is more than enough.
Bubble wraps serve as a good insulator because of its design which has small air pockets. Because the base material for bubble wraps are plastic, it heats up quickly, and so bubble wraps serve as good insulators. Bubble wraps are also best suited for greenhouses.
Find large pieces of bubble wrap, preferably with medium to large-sized bubbles. Using scissors, cut the sheets slightly smaller than your window glass. Spray a thin film of water onto the window glass with a spray bottle. Apply the wrap, bubbly side toward the wet glass.
Bubble wrap is effective in preventing heat loss/cold seeping into rooms. Reduces heating costs because of better heat retention. Lets light into rooms in the dark winter months.
Most brands of foil-faced bubble wrap are only 3/8 inch thick or less, and have an R-value of only 1.0 or 1.1.
The best insulation for stopping drafts around windows will be a material that keeps air from leaking around the frame. The most commonly used insulation materials are fiberglass and window spray foam insulation.
The benefits are significant. Honeycomb shades can block heat about as well as a 1/8 inch sheet of insulated foam. Their R-value (or, their ability to insulate against heat flow) ranges between 2 and 5. In comparison, a typical double pane window has an R-value of 1.8.
Blown-in attic insulations both work well in both winter and summer months, and multi-layer or reflective attic insulation is an innovative way of keeping heat out of your attic by reflecting back to its source. Installing multi-layer insulation around your attic walls is also going to reduce ice dams.
Foil-faced bubble wrap is a radiant barrier. It's not insulation. A radiant barrier reduces heat transfer by radiation and has two excellent applications in homes. Insulation reduces heat transfer by conduction through solid materials.
While it takes 500 degrees of heat for generic bubble wrap to become flammable and 200 degrees to melt, the product can catch on fire easily and quickly due to the mix of plastic spheres and oxygen. Bubble wrap can also give off irritating vapors that cause breathing problems if inhaled.
Make sure when winterizing your unit that you fill any and all gaps that might allow drafts and leaks to blow through. You can seal the gaps in the window with strips of foam insulation or soft sealing tape made specifically for AC units.
Does Insulation Film Work? Despite the controversy following any DIY homeowner solution, both window companies and repair gurus consider insulation film to be effective. It really works, and it can increase a window's insulation for many months.
Make Your Single-Pane Windows More Efficient
Hang heavy-duty curtains to contain drafts. When the sun beams down in the home, draw the curtains to keep the room in shade. Check your windows periodically for deteriorating caulk both inside and outside the home. Scrape away old deteriorating caulk and install new caulk.
Sealing around windows and doors is one of the most common uses for expanding foam. But the high-expansion stuff can actually push the jamb inward, making them impossible to open. Avoid this by using minimal expanding foam. It's formulated to fill the space around windows and doors without excess expansion.