How do you insulate your windows?

[Razorguns]

Especially if you have a window where the sun hits it all day - and heats the window, and you don't want cold air wasted by it.

I'm thinking of getting this:

http://www.improvementscatalog.com/product/id/122623.do

The other option is insulated curtains with 2-liners.

http://www.improvementscatalog.com/home/improvements/1013-insulated-curtains.html

Come on, not everyone here is mo, there's gotta be a few hardcore manly truck driving rednecks who know about this stuff. I'm looking at you, ef women.

r

 

[gonelifting]

That first link looks good. The best would be placing something (shutters etc..) on the outside of the house, but people generally don't do that.

I think that when heat comes into the house through the window, the blinds won't really help at that point. Sure the direct sunlight will be stopped, but for some reason, I forget wehat it was, the heat will already be on the inside of your house and you would still need to cool it the same. I could be wrong on that one though.

I suggest what you have in the link if you don't mind the look.

If the blinds do work, there are honeycomb blinds with single, double, triple layers of insulating blinds to add to the insulating value of the blind. I have the single, but can't really measure if they work or not.


You may want to seal all penetrations, cracks, holes, with caulking before you do anything else.

 

[Razorguns]

Yeah i'm thinking it might be better to cover the windows outside with some thin plywood or something esthetic i can find at home depot. Keep the hot sun from even hitting the window.

r

 

[Mr. dB]

Here's the trick -- get a big roll of plastic sheeting, a staple gun, and a lot of old newspapers. Cut out and staple a sheet of the visqueen over each of your windows, and fill the gap between the window and the plastic with crumpled newspaper before you staple the top shut.

 

[gonelifting]

http://www.atticfoil.com/

^^ This stuff is great for attics. It works. I'm sure it will work for windows as well, but #1 it is not made for wiondows. #2 it won't look very nice when you have aluminum foil windows.

But it's your most efficient product.

 

[needtogetarmy]

I use wet toilet paper.

 

[needtogetarmy]

On a serious note the double panel windows are very good for insulation. I had them when I lived up north. Back in the day they cost $300 a pop. They had some special gas in them too to keep cold in during the summer and heat in during the winter.

I live down south now and planted trees all around the house. That is cheap, effective and saves the environment.

 

[Razorguns]

That's a good link! Tho it'll look ugly from the outside. So I may have to use a combo solution.

Here's a good article: http://www.atticfoil.com/yourhome.htm

r

 

[gonelifting]

Yeah i'm thinking it might be better to cover the windows outside with some thin plywood or something esthetic i can find at home depot. Keep the hot sun from even hitting the window.

r

If you do put wood, then you can install that foil I linked above. It's very cheap and the most efficient thing you can get. All you need is an inch of clearance under it and it will work. Place it undreneath the wood and you'll block out all the heat from coming in. Put it in your attic while you're at it. Seriously, read the link. I would install it, but it's only good for hot climates. I'm in New Jersey. The winters would not be good with that here for various reasons.

 

[gonelifting]

That's a good link! Tho it'll look ugly from the outside. So I may have to use a combo solution.

Here's a good article: http://www.atticfoil.com/yourhome.htm

r

I saw this post after I replied above.

Just place the foil on the inside of the wood or panels you put outside the window. They sell insulating shutters as well. I've seen them somewhere before.

 

[Razorguns]

I saw this post after I replied above.

Just place the foil on the inside of the wood or panels you put outside the window. They sell insulating shutters as well. I've seen them somewhere before.

Okay. I'm going to Home Depot tomorrow, where I feel oh so manly, and asking about "Aluminum barrier foil Insulation" to place on my windows, and thin white wood to cover them up with. The foil by itself probably wont' look that bad if placed on the window, but I think a wood piece on top of it will look better.

You heterosexuals rule.

r

 

[rnch]

u r ok with loosing the natural light?

 

[Razorguns]

u r ok with loosing the natural light?

yeah especially since I look at a monitor all day.

r

 

[gonelifting]

Okay. I'm going to Home Depot tomorrow, where I feel oh so manly, and asking about "Aluminum barrier foil Insulation" to place on my windows, and thin white wood to cover them up with. The foil by itself probably wont' look that bad if placed on the window, but I think a wood piece on top of it will look better.

You heterosexuals rule.

r

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...d=10053&productId=100068635&categoryID=503272

^^^ Technically It's not for windows, but it will work. It's just like the car windshield foil things you put on in the sun.

If you want to test it out. Just tape a big piece over your whole window when it's 100 degrees out and see the temp difference with and without it. I'm curious to see the results. Good luck.

 

[Creepusmaximus]

If you want it to look trailer park that will work. If you don't want light, lined curtails work the best. When you want light open them up. That's what I would do short of replacing the window(s).

 

[avidinternet]

I have a house in Florida and I have plantation shutters from home depot that work great!!!! Without the shutters it is hot as heck in the house. With the shutters (placed inside the house on each window, plus they cut them to fit for you too....NOT outside or you'll look like a DP.) It will work wonders for any heat that enters. Trust me on this, it gets hot as can be in Forida in the summer and these work like perfection.

BTW get the 2 inch plantation shutters in stock here's the link http://blinds.homedepot.com/index.php?tem=10124&moreinfo=true&formname=moreinfo

 

[Razorguns]

I have a house in Florida and I have plantation shutters from home depot that work great!!!! Without the shutters it is hot as heck in the house. With the shutters (placed inside the house on each window, plus they cut them to fit for you too....NOT outside or you'll look like a DP.) It will work wonders for any heat that enters. Trust me on this, it gets hot as can be in Forida in the summer and these work like perfection.

BTW get the 2 inch plantation shutters in stock here's the link http://blinds.homedepot.com/index.php?tem=10124&moreinfo=true&formname=moreinfo

yeah but the heat is already in the house then by the time it hits the shutters.

I like the foil idea combined with something esthetic or black tinted behind it. Gonna research tomorrow - only one window so it's not too hard of a job.

r

 

[avidinternet]

yeah but the heat is already in the house then by the time it hits the shutters.

I like the foil idea combined with something esthetic or black tinted behind it. Gonna research tomorrow - only one window so it's not too hard of a job.

r

No, it deflects and insulates it so it does not get hot at all, just keep them closed. Trust me I have a bedroom facing the west and it used to be like an oven in the afternoon to the evening until I got these. They work!

 

[Razorguns]

Well I just put in pull down shades outside my window. cream colored. They look pretty nice actually, covering the window, and match the color scheme of the rest of my house.

Gonna see how much it works. I can still add radiant foil to the other side of the window inside.

It is so hot today. I was sweating, and not in that sexy slow motion playboy kinda way. Sweaty uncomfortable oven hot kinda way. Gonna go rock out to some exodus brain dead now. Whew.

r