Insulating your own windows

“Does anyone have an idea how to do this? I have huge windows in my house, and they are not keeping out the cold air. My heating bills are huge because the heat is on all day, but the house wont warm up. I need some suggestions. Thanks!”

“Plastic over the outside.
Wal-Mart sells kits for this.”

“Try putting up clear plastic around the windows making sure there is an air space. If they are windows that you don't need to look out of, like basement windows, cover the window with insulation foam.”

“well, i cant exactly do that. I live in an apt.

Could I put plastic over the inside?
last edited: 12/05/05 10:01:58 AM”

“Just get the plastic to put over them, you just tape it around the sill then use a hair dryer to tighten it.

Yes the plastic goes on the inside.

We have the same problem at our house, the upstairs windows are older and it gets darn cold.

Make sure you're opening your windows during the day and closing the blinds and drapes as soon as the sun goes down.
last edited: 12/05/05 10:03:09 AM”

“There is some kind of plastic kit that you use a hair dryer on...I know some people in the office that did it as a community service thing. I'll see if I can find out just what it was.”

“Could I put plastic over the inside?
embear
11:00:28 AM
12/05/05
ignore this user

Yes”

“em-
they have kits (by 3-m, etc) you can buy at target, walmart, hardware stores, etc. all that's in them is plastic and double sided tape. you cut down the plastic to fit the window, tape them up, then hair dry the taped section to help seal.”

“http://doityourself.com/store/u174227.htm

Here ya go!
I've seen these in Wal-Mart.
Frost King is the brand. Any hardware store should have them also.”

“If you don't like the look of platic in the days of yore they would hang thick tapestries and drapes over windows to help insulate them.”

“I have replaced all the windows in my house. I did them one or two at a time as I had time and money. New insulated vinyl frame windows are not that expensive compared to buying storm windows. They are not that hard to install.

Glass is a poor insulator by a hole in the wall is worse. First seal any gaps around the frames. Use foam backer rod and good caulking. Install new whether stripping at the window openings edges. Air movement through the walls is the worst energy thief.

The plastic over the windows helps but insulating draperies will be better if can put up with the darker inside. At night that wouldn’t matter anyway. Think about a quilted material will a system to seal down the edges.”

“You could pot a ring of stones in your general living area and have campfires.”

“looks like everyone agrees on the same idea. THanks all! I will try this, and hopefully will have a warmer house now. Its cold as sh*t in here right now.”

“yeah, those are the kits...

One of the perks of burning wood is I can open my windows for fresh air without worrying about my heating bill.”

“This is what you're looking for -

http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/en001/home_leisure/-/node_KLVWCF4MDMgs/root_GST1T4S9TCgv/vroot_GSHCV1ZFXKge/bgel_PTLM0VJ4PXbl/gvel_XWM5R22X3Vgl/theme_us_homeleisure_3_0/command_AbcPageHandler/output_html

I know they had them at the Target on County Line.
last edited: 12/05/05 10:11:57 AM”

“i have a fireplace, but its gas, so that doesnt really help me out on the heating bills.”

“Sorry, I posted the outdoor stuff above.
Here's the indoor kits:
http://www.doityourself.com/store/u491423.htm”

“embear, what about weather stripping?
I have the same damn problem...I feel the air crawl through doors and windows.”

“look here:
http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/houseeq/gh4882.htm
http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/houseeq/gh4882.htm”

“If you actually want to heat your apartment during the day, if you have a south facing window (east or west works not just as well) get a cafe rod (the spring loaded kind). Get some black plastic, cut to fit the window width wise and 1 longer. Glue or tape a 1 inch hem and put the curtain rod through it. Put the rod in the window with a larger gap at the bottom and a small gap at the top. The cold air will be sucked in when the air starts to heat up and the hot air comes out the top. (Think of how hot your car is after sitting in the sun). At night I would put heavy drapes on the window to keep the heat in. Good luck.

My Mom has tried this in PA. She was amazed it worked. It heated up a very cold room in her house.”

“I appreciate everyone's help here! Looks like I see some plastic in my future.”

“Caulking around the inside of the windows can help too.”

“LOL
Poor Bison's link would be the one to hose up the thread.”

“Oh, it still looks fine if you have a widescreen monitor.”

“Depending upon your income level, your utility may have a program where they'll come out and do an energy audit and install window film and what-not for free.

Give them a call.”

“Don't know if this would be helpful, but maybe -
http://www.xcelenergy.com/XLWEB/CDA/0,get%20this,1-1-1_21735_15705_18030-15862-2_358_567-0,00.html”

“what r u trying to say? that my sorry a$$ is broke? lol”

“I have an extra bedroom. The windows are double paned and insulated. On top of that it was 75 degrees yesterday. Move in and problem solved :D
last edited: 12/05/05 2:58:46 PM”

“Hey, I'm just tryin' to be helpful!”

“Move in and problem solved :D ... and yours begin ;op”

““Move in and problem solved :D ... and yours begin ;op”
Y2
3:07:39 PM
12/05/05

Touché... LOL.”

“hmmm. i dont like the sound of this. Yall are dumb boys. go away!”

“"Yall are dumb boys. go away!”
embear

"A friend should bear his friend's infirmities."

Shakespeare - (Cassius: Julius Cesear)”

“Yea, and look where that got 'Cesear', stabbed to death.”

“Plastic sucks ass and is ugly as hell! Get a couple electric heaters.

Storm Windows?

Caulk?

Anything but that damn plastic!
last edited: 12/05/05 9:30:46 PM”

“LOL @ Embear!!”

“Embear, if you have windows that you don't need to look out of, use painters plastic, and close the curtains. I just put some over a huge sliding glass door at my grandmothers, and it helped a lot. Very inexpensive too, like $5.00. Use a bit of the blue painters tape, and everything is a-ok”

“I've got the extra large windows...so I had to use the "Patio" size clear plastic sheets. I tape the sheet 3" past the sills to catch any air that seeps thru the cracks.”

“THey make some very clear plastic (cellophane) for the inside. My old neighbor in the Adirondacks used to fold up newspaper around & at the bottom of her windows to keep out the drafts.

I use insulated drapes & shutters at night on top of triple pane windows.

Can't you talk to your landlord about the heat?”