Getting Ready for Old Man Winter - Winterizing Your Windows

The last of the harvest is coming in. The Sand Hill Cranes are gone, and more flights of Canada geese leave every day. The ponds are edged with a thin skiff of ice that lingers in places the morning sun can't reach. We can still look forward a few more weeks of warm days, but our night temperatures have dropped from chilly to downright cold.

The evening breeze has a bitter edge - a sign of winter snows to come. Before the "white stuff" returns though, we have a few jobs to complete. Garden clean-up is high on the list, as is winterizing camper, but today, we have set aside a few hours to winterize our windows with insulating film.

Even though our windows are double glazed, there is room for improvement. The ideal solution would be new windows, or at least taking down the window trim and checking that the insulation still fills all the gaps around the casing.

Removing the trim to check the insulation can be a time consuming job. Sometimes, the old trim can chip or crack, requiring replacement. As we topped up our window insulation last fall, and replaced a few trim boards in the process, we can move on to applying the insulating film.

Well, perhaps not right away. There are a few necessary steps to ensure the installation goes without a hitch.

1. Wash the windows and rinse them with vinegar and warm water. You can use a commercial window cleaner, hot water and newsprint, cleaning rags, or paper towels - the choice is yours. Just make sure the windows are spotless. They will be covered up for several months, and once the film is sealed, you will have to live with any irritating streaks you may have left.
2. Vacuum the window sills clean of any dust or dirt. Wash the sills, top bottom and sides. Check the calking once the sills are dry, and remove any loose or crumbly bits, replacing them with new calking. Let the sills dry completely and any new calking dry before continuing to the next step.
3. Wash the walls beside the windows. You don't have to wash the entire wall, but make sure there are no fingerprints or smudges from little fingers on the walls where that you will be applying the insulating film, as the dirt or grease under the tape may cause the seal to fail.

Most hardware and big box stores carry a bewildering array of window film. It can be difficult to choose the right one for your job.

There are decorative window films, room darkening window films, sun blocking but non-darkening window films, and frosted window films that admit light but block the view from outside. Many of these add an degree of insulation along with their other purposes.

For large areas, though, or when you have many windows to insulate, the most cost effective film is clear insulating film. This film is available in a wide variety of kits and, when correctly applied, can greatly improve the window's "R-factor" or insulation value, and help keep your room toasty through the cold season.

The most economical solution for most home owners is heat-shrink film. This film comes in a variety of sizes and prices, for both interior and exterior use.

We have one large non-opening window on the south-east side of the house - our living room. Though it is double-glazed, we definitely benefit from applying window film insulation. The living room stays much cooler in the summer, and we certainly notice a difference in our heating bill in the winter months.

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Applying the film

Most film producers claim their product can be applied by one person, however, you can save yourself a lot of frustration by enlisting your spouse or a friend to help out.

The easiest to use products are those that are pre-cut to your window size. Purchase the size that is closest to the outside dimensions, including the frame, of the window you wish to cover.

1. Make sure the walls and window are clean and dry before beginning the application.
2. Carefully center the film on the window, and trim the excess from one side.
3. Have one person hold the film at the top of the window, and carefully align the top and one side.
4. Secure the top of the film in one corner with a small piece of tape.
5. Moving from top first and then to the bottom, tape the film across the top, and down the sides of the window, stretching the film smoothly across the window. Most of the kits come with double-sided tape, so the easiest way to apply the tape is to have one person stretch the film into position. Once you see where the tape line will go, the film can be folded out of the way while the tape is applied to the wall. Then the paper covering can be removed from the outside of the tape, and the film stretched back into place and smoothed onto the tape.
6. Trim any excess film from the bottom, and tape it securely.
7. Using a hair dryer, heat-shrink the film so that it is taut (tight). Take care to keep the dryer moving, because you can completely melt the film if you stay in one place too long.

With a little care and not too much cost, your rooms can all be warm for the winter, and save you some money in heating casts, as well.

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© 2011 Elle Fredine, All rights reserved