Does Plastic Wrap Insulate Windows

Applying plastic over windows project.

Does plastic wrap insulate windows.

Time to use that bubble wrap. It s a great insulator and perhaps the best cost effective way to insulate your windows. When you re dealing with old drafty windows you essentially have two options. Put old bubble wrap to good use and save some money in the long run.

We spoke to industry experts to find out whether covering your windows in cling film really does help insulate your house and whether stocking up on the hot water bottles will really do the trick. Window insulation kits are also virtually invisible so you can add it to any window in your home. You can use plastic window kits on sliding glass doors and windows to keep the cold air out. Replace them or seal them with insulating window film a k a.

The only drawback is that it isn t the snazziest look and as it will cause distortion don t use this method for any window you need to see clearly through. Adding a strip of bubble wrap raises this value to 2. Bubble wrap works as insulation because it raises your windows r value. In just about 15 seconds per each window you can reduce the heat in your house significantly.

When applying it to the window the bubble side should face the glass. This kit by 3m a leader in consumer products insulates up to five windows and the company claims it lowers heating costs and saves energy. Opt for bubble wrap with large bubbles since it tends to insulate better than the smaller bubble type. If you are still not sure how to insulate windows check out why we think bubble wrap is a perfect low budget choice for home insulation material.

The higher the r value the less heat escapes. The use of plastic heat shrink window coverings is an easy effective and inexpensive window option. Bubble wrap is plastic film with air filled pockets. Open the window insulation kit and take out the double sided tape.

Good insulator due to its specific structure with small air pockets made of plastic which can heat up very quickly cost effective cheap or even free if recycled reused. Weather stripping doesn t have problems with moisture and will keep the drafts out. A single pane window has an r value of 8. Bubble wrap can be even cheaper than window insulation film.

Use a window insulation kit to add a barrier over your entire window and window frame. Clean the framing of your window with a damp cloth or rubbing alcohol. This keeps the cold air out with a pocket of air between the window and the plastic. You ll want to add the bubble wrap to your window before using the window insulation kit.

Buy a plastic window kit to insulate sliding doors for winter. An r value is a measure of resistance to heat flow through a material s thickness. Trim the bubble wrap so that it slightly overlaps the seams of your window.