From top to bottom, press the plastic sheet firmly onto the taped frame. Make sure there are no gaps. From top to bottom, and working 3 inches to 5 inches away from the plastic, use a hairdryer on high heat and run it over the plastic quickly. Heat the entire window, getting out as many wrinkles as you can.
Using a heat gun or hair dryer begin heating film at window corners and slowly work up the window. If using a hair dryer, use on the highest heat setting and keep the dryer close to the film without touching the film. 8. The finished film should be wrinkle free and tightly stretched across the window.
Install Draft Stoppers: Place draft stoppers or door snakes at the bottom of windows to block cold air from entering. Seal Cracks and Gaps: Use caulk to fill in any cracks or gaps around window frames, especially if you notice air leaks. Apply Reflective Window Film: Consider applying reflective film to the glass.
Savings in Energy and Money
Window film covers are inexpensive, reduce drafts, help the house feel warmer during winter months, and reduce moisture buildup on the window due to condensation.
According to the HowToGoSolar, a free online resource geared toward educating homeowners on the benefits of solar power and energy efficiency, bubble wrapped windows show insulating improvements that are 50% better on single-glazed windows, cutting utility bills almost in half.
Insulating windows without plastic is usually the better method. Outside of simply replacing your windows, you could buy cellular shades, which trap air between the window and the home, add a window film that blocks UV rays and traps heat, or cover your windows with a low-emissivity coating called “low-E.”
1. Cover Drafty Windows with Window Insulation. Shrink film or "shrink-and-seal" window insulation is a transparent plastic film that's easy to install. Using double-sided tape (typically included in the kit) and a hand-held hair dryer, shrink film is one of the simplest solutions for drafty windows.
Before sealing a plastic bag with a hair dryer, adjust the settings to ensure optimal results: Heat setting: Set the hair dryer to a high heat setting. This will provide the necessary heat to melt the plastic.
You cut the plastic to fit your window and use double-sided tape to attach it to the entire pane. Then, usually with a hair dryer, you shrink-wrap the plastic film to fit snugly across. In theory, this is meant to prevent cold or hot air from outside from entering your home through your windows.
If you put your hair dryer on its hottest setting you probably could produce some desired heat shrink application results. However, using a hair dryer to apply heat shrink will take a very long time and the results will not be as good as if you used a heat gun.
Insulated Cellular Shades
Insulated shades contain one or more air layers in a honeycomb cross-section. Some can be adjusted from the top, from the bottom, or both. Insulated cellular shades are typically considered to have the highest R-values of all window coverings.
What's the point of using plastic wrap? Plastic wrap is a great solution to save money when you have drafty windows. Plastic does an excellent job of keeping the heat from escaping if it stays intact.
The insulating properties of bubble wrap help maintain stable indoor temperatures, reducing the reliance on heating and cooling systems. This translates to substantial energy savings and lower utility bills over time. Bubble wrap insulation offers a remarkable level of versatility and ease of installation.
Installing plastic window film on the inside of your windows is a great option if you're hoping to insulate year-round. Applying the film indoors may also prove to be a bit easier because you don't have to worry about navigating around outdoor shrubbery or climbing up a ladder to get the job done.
According to Energy.gov, plastic window insulation can save you 10%–30% on heating and cooling costs. While plastic window sheeting may have some downsides, it is reasonably effective as a wintertime insulator. Here we'll cover the pros and cons of plastic insulation for windows and explain how to install them.
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.
Foil-faced bubble wrap is commonly used for ducts, since it's fairly easy to wrap around them. However, to take advantage of the radiant barrier, you have to create about 2″ of air-space between the foil and the duct, which is extremely difficult to do, especially on a curved surface.
Window Insulation Kits
A highly effective though temporary way to prevent window drafts is to apply a clear plastic film over the entire interior of your window. You apply it with two-sided tape, then use a warm hair dryer to shrink the film for a tight, draft-proof fit.