shrink wrap plastic to insulate windows?
Anyone ever use those kits they sell to weatherproof windows that takes a blow dryer to shrink the plastic. I bought a kit once but never got around to installing it. Has anyone used one and know if they work well? Know anyone who could do it for me? I know I’ll never do it…
Anyone ever use those kits they sell to weatherproof windows that takes a blow dryer to shrink the plastic. I bought a kit once but never got around to installing it. Has anyone used one and know if they work well? Know anyone who could do it for me? I know I’ll never do it for myself. What do you think someone would charge to do that for 5-6 windows?
thanks everyone!! sorry it took so long for me to respond!!
I’ve been using it for years on some single pane windows and to cover my air conditioners. Very easy to use.
For the air conditioners I add a layer of bubble wrap between the front of the ac and the shrink wrap.
You can caulk around the window casings, baseboards etc. with clear caulk to eliminate some drafts. The small squeeze tube is the easiest to use.
have you ever used saran wrap on a bowl of leftovers? if yes, you can do this,
the only difference is that you lay down double sided sticky tape (included) and make the film reasonably tight.
then you go back and blow a hot hair dryer on it and it makes it super tight. all this step does is keep the airspace full of air, and air is actually what insulates. even pink fluffy insulation is about the airspace, not the insulation itself.
it works well for leaky windows, but not the frame around the windows, as was said. still it works very well for most people with old / leaky windows.
Works great, it’s a lifesaver. You don’t have to shrink them, just tape them up with fresh blue painters tape.
Single/double has little to do with the leakiness of old, cheap or distorted windows (describes my double-panes) as the leaks are around the frame. The film does a great job in containing airflow. I don’t know what bobjohn means about ‘standard sized’ etc, the film can be gotten in 7′ wide lengths which is plenty for brownstone double parlor windows. You just install and cut away the excess.
Of course, it’s easy to tear and fragile. Mine are so invisible that my main fear is someone reaching over to adjust the latch or something and piercing the film they did not see. Also waiting for a really windy day to see if the film busts.
I did it first year after I got into the house and was not clear how hard is to heat the house. I have to say that shrink seal would only help to really drafty single pane window. It is marginally helpful to double-pane window. At the same time brownstone windows are no the standard sized so I had to handcraft each sheet of plastic and it took quite amount of time. given you will have to do it on two dozens of windows. and it looks silly. and it collects dust. and you have to redo it every year.
so unless you have drafty single pane windows without storm windows, I would not do it.
works fabulously. keeps drafts out and still allows for visibility. easy to do.