If you're like most homeowners, you winterize your property, so why not insulate the windows for summer? Seal or block drafts: Weather stripping keeps the elements from seeping through, and those long, slender pillows called draft snakes placed on a windowsill can also ward off heat and cold airflows.
How do window films work? 3M™ Window Films let in the light you love while reflecting much of the sun's heat away from your home, so you can stay cooler in the summer. At the same time, they block up to 99% of harmful UV rays - without blocking your view.
Putting the film on the outside would only expose it to weathering elements, so by putting it inside, it's better protected. Before putting up the plastic film, first take down any curtains, drapes or blinds so you can more easily reach the inside of the windows.
Bubble wrap works by increasing the isolative value of the window, making it effective in keeping the heat out in summer and preventing heat loss in winter. "The still layer of air trapped in the bubbles gives a cheap double-glazed-type effect," Ms Edwards said.
Don't worry, you won't damage your window in leaving the plastic on. While several do-it-yourself window insulation tricks won't make your home look snazzy, they're entirely worth it. Reduce your expenses, and take advantage of the many cheap, simple solutions currently available.
If you are in a pinch, bubble wrap is an excellent insulator for summer windows. Simply spray a light mist of water on your windows, and lay bubble wrap against them to act as another layer of glass. The bubble wrap will stick as long as you need, and it works to keep the hot out and the cold in.
Drapes, curtains and blinds enable you to control the amount of sunlight that enters the room. If you keep them closed completely, you can block the light and heat coming from the sun. You might want to consider window treatments with a light-colored or reflective backing as they are known to work best.
Yes. In baking, aluminum foil keeps the food unburnt from direct heat exposure in the oven. Following the same logic, aluminum foil on the window keeps the heat out because, well, it is heat resistant. As such, wrapping your windows with aluminum foil generally maintains the low temperature inside your home.
Thermal curtains, or blackout curtains, work to insulate your house from the sun. Install them to cover windows that are regularly exposed to direct sunlight. As the curtains block out sun and heat, your air conditioner won't have to work as hard, so you will simultaneously cool your house and lower your energy costs.
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. Additionally, insulation film lets in sunlight—which can further warm a window.
Window insulation film can mean as much as a 30% to 40% decrease in your utility bills. Window films are one way to make your windows more energy efficient. You might be able to save up to 19kWh per square foot of glass on your energy costs.
Under the right conditions, quality film for windows can last for as long as you own your home. Many homeowners have gotten 20 years or more out of their tinting systems.
Apply the bubble wrap while the window is still wet and press it into place. The bubble side goes toward the glass. To remove the bubble wrap, just pull it off starting from a corner. You can save it and use it for several years.
The two layers of bubble wrap fuzzy the view a bit more than one layer, but it still seems to transmit quite a bit of light. The surface temperature on the 2nd layer is higher than the surface temperature on the first layer, so it is adding some insulation value.
After applying bubble wrap insulation to your windowpane from the inside, tiny bubbles serve as a network of many insulating pockets filled with air. Spoiler alert: larger bubbles are better! Bubble wrap will instantly increase the insulation R-value (resistance to heat flow) of your windows by a factor of 1 (one).
The best way to winterize your windows is to add a sealed layer of plastic or glass over the window. And the cheapest, easiest way to do this is by installing an interior window insulation kit. Duck brand Shrink Film Window Insulation Kit and 3M Window Insulator Kit are two readily available options.