so, anyone ever heard or use....?

Question

My house was built in 1924. I love the windows but my gas bill is upwards of $800.00 a month! Anyone ever use those shrink plastic window covers? I have seen them on tv. Are they worth it? If not is there any other ideas? New windows for this house that look like the original are a CRAZY price! I would like an easy fix just for winter months if possible.

Answer 1

I have used the shrink warp windows by 3M and they are quite useful. However, bear in mind that they only seal the WINDOW. If the problem is gaps around the edges of the window, where the framing has shrunk away from the plaster (or vice versa), it will not help that. You would need to caulk those areas.

The only problem I had with the shrink wrap (other than being time consuming) is that the tape can remove loose paint or leave a little bit of glue residue when it is removed. For this reason, try to always put the tape around the sides of the window (where they meet the wall), rather than on the face of the window frame.

Patience is the key in getting the shrink to work. Don't rush it -- just work from one corner to the other, slowly, with the hair dryer. I used the diffuser on mine to avoid "hot spots".

Hope this helps and good luck on the heating bills!!

Answer 2

I haven't had any experience with the product you're talking about, but I did try tinted plastic coverings once and they didn't last the summer. They started cracking, peeling and just looked terrible. And a total nightmare to get off the window. My guess is that the clear plastic would start yellowing and do the same thing. But again, I don't really know for sure. I don't know how many windows you have, but it does make a difference if they are covered by curtains or drapes. If you really want to stop heat loss and don't mind doing some work, take off the casing around the window and fill the voids with either fiberglass insulation or expandable foam. Houses that old are notorious for heat loss around the windows. It's a lot of work, but it doesn't cost much. And finally I'd just say, I'm glad it's you and not me. Old houses are like elephants. They're fun to look at, but I wouldn't want to own one.

Answer 3

Yeah, it works! I put them up every year, when I lived in the big drafty house I used to live in. I put the plastic up, and you can see the plastic move - proof that cold air was indeed leaking in through the window.

Also, one day, as I was sitting on the couch, I noticed a cold, cold draft. The tape from the bottom of the window had come undone! I couldn't believe the difference!

One more thing, I always had to clean the area I attached the tape to. I used a simple de-greaser, window cleaner, and once, just plain water.

I liked putting up the plastic wrap. When you stretch it out with the hair dryer, you can't tell there's anything there. Make sure you clean you windows first, as the plastic will be up all winter and you can't clean through the plastic! :)

Answer 4

My house was built in 1865, and I use that plastic every winter. My first winter in the house i didn't use it, and my gas bill was almost $1,000, but since then i am down around $650 a year with the plastic. Just buy it at walmart, i doesn't hurt anything and it is really cheap. Have a great winter!

Answer 5

You can buy the shrink plastic that can be applied with a hair dryer. just roll onto the inside of your windows, attach it with a duct tape around the edge (the tape will be hidden by your curtains) then shrink it to fit by using a hairdryer. I'd rather use the "shrink to fit" plastic, because you are still able to see out of your window, while keeping the cold air out. Hope this helps!

Answer 6

My house was built around the same time. Shrink plastic works well in the coldest days if fitted right. Caulk any areas around frame and loose panes that need it. Weatherstrip around all exterior doors.
Shop around over the warmer months and slowly replace the worst windows one by one. Refit or Habitat have stores that sell used windows. Check newspapers and ask about returns at window stores, these may sell at heavily discounted prices. Take your time and you will succeed!

Answer 7

i use the 3M window plastic every year because i have the same problem. Remember to buy more double sided tape thou and the clear plastic kind they do have all different sizes even for picture windows and patio doors
clean where the tape goes then hang it

blow dry they come out like glass
can't wait to buy new windows lol good luck

Answer 8

plastic will help cut down on the heat bill. Caulk around the outside cracks in doors and windows as well. Felt weatherstrip around the gaps in doors helps as well. Take care

Answer 9

You know hun, you should have your local utility come out and evaluate the house, it sounds to me like you are losing heat from the roof. I say this because my attic is insulated but windows are all single pane and quite leaky, my house is 141 years old, my electric and gas bills never have been higher than $300. Insulation for the attic is easy and cheap to do. It sounds to me like the attic is where you are losing your heat.

Answer 10

$800.00 a month, that's outragous, I'd look for a different source of heat. I purchased a pellet stove to suppliment my heating costs and ended up not even using my primary oil heat. I burned my pellet stove for three years now and it has paid for itself in what I would have paid for oil. Check out Harmanstoves.com. I have their Advance model and I'm very happy with it.