Does plastic on windows really help?

Question

Have very little budget to work with, paid Marshall Construction of Kalamazoo to do the roof, haven't seen him since (Even with the contract), windows are in really poor condition and need to be replaced but don't have the funds to do it (Lost job like everyone else in Michigan). I have almost a zero budget to do this thanks to people like Marshall construction. Any suggestions how to get this 900 sqft home to stay warm without the furnace always working?

Answer 1

Plastic on the windows really does work.. I lived in a really old house in Ohio and the windows were so bad that you could feel the cold air coming in... We used the window kits and it really kept the heat in ! We also used some plastic opaque sheeting on the outside windows which didn't look too great on the outside but, it helped greatly. Also, in our basement we have a device hooked up to our dryer.. It looks like a standard dryer hose but, instead of blowing all the nice hot air outside it's got a fine mesh screen and it blows the hot air back inside the house.. GREAT for when you are doing laundry. We also use a newer style baseboard heater in our main living room/family room. We bought the heater a few summers ago when it was on clearance..It's very safe and energy efficient. I also use heavy curtains to keep heat in a particular room. We keep our thermostate at around 60-64 degrees.... In our new house it's a 1700 square ft. ranch.. We are fortunate enough to have a wood burning stove.. Which has cut our gas bill in half ! Good luck

Answer 2

Never pay a contractor to do the work before the job is done. If they say they need cash upfront to get the materials, that should be a red flag that they do not have an account anywhere to get supplies. Yes, plastic on the windows helps tremendously if done properly.It keeps the air out. You will notice a big difference.I put an electric blanket on my bed, so I am able to turn the heat way back at night.I always try to wear warm socks and sweats around the house when I am home.If it is real cold outside, I make sure I leave the doors open under my kitchen and bathroom sinks to help the pipes stay warm. Close any outside vents or insulate basement windows.My house is only 900 sq ft also, and my gas budget is $38 a month.Keep warm.

Answer 3

Plastic on the windows will help a little, especially if you can keep at least a couple inches between the glass and the plastic. If you do not have carpeting, put down some rugs. Check your furnace filter, make sure it is clean. Also if the construction company left you hanging, take them to court, you may be limited to the amount you can recover in small claims, but it also might push them into doing the work.

Answer 4

Yes, the plastic sheeting "interior" storm windows really do help... it creates an insulating pocket of dead air that'll significantly reduce heat transferance and virtually eliminate drafts.

I lived in a home originally built in 1749 with a re-hab that was over 50 years old... HUGE 3' x 5' windows that seemed to attract every artic wind on the planet. Even w/ the furnace running alllllll the time you could see the smoke from a lit cigarette swirl through the drafty rooms.

I bought & installed the Frost King shrink plastic window kits and saved over $400 on heating oil the first winter I had them... and my toes were warm alllll the time too! :-)

Amazon sells the Frost King 9-window pack for standard sized windows for < $16... cheap at twice the price. Check it out here: http://www.amazon.com/Frost-King-42x62-Window-Insulation/dp/B000AXSVJ4.

Hope this helps,
      TX Griff

Answer 5

You are trying to avoid heat loss so plastic on the inside of the window.

Your home heating is like a balloon. You turn the thermostat up and your furnace kicks on to start heating the house. The furnace will run until the thermostat you turned up is heated to the temperature you asked for.

I have inspected buildings related to this and referred ceiling fans or air movement to help.

Go to http://www.thermoguy.com/globalwarming-heatloss.html and see thermal images that let you see where your building loses heat.

Answer 6

yes put the plastic on the windows it done help i do i each year, and my house is just a little better off then yours and i live in Michigan too but you can get free winterize with the stat or call313-852-5634 and there will tell you where to get help at

Answer 7

If I am not mistaken, you can weatherstrip all of your windows which is pretty inexpensive, you can buy the strips for little of nothing and there is a window tint that you can purchase that will keep the sun out in the Summer and keep it warm in the Winter.

Answer 8

i think it helps + keep some noise out 2. try putting blanket around u r water heater. about $10.00 or less. put heavy curtains up. or put sheets or blanket over them at nite. open curtains when sun is shining. check out the web-site people r telling u about.