IN THIS EXTREME COLD: what are you going to do about you’re #1 heat loss(windows)

[awoodman]

This should also be a post (why do we burn so much wood).
Extreme tep. drops call for extreme measures. My insulated window blinds arent enough, considering 2'' thick styrofoame panels
to block off openings.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

In the extreme cold I just sit by the stove and enjoy the fruits of my labor.

We do close off a room and keep the curtains shut. The curtains on the south stay open only if the sun is shinning. That's about all we do here.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I covered my 90 yo windows with bubble wrap. It still lets light in.

Matt

 

[peakbagger]

Its hard to beat double cellular shade with window tracks, but if the window is on the west or North side, a piece of isoboard cut tight to the opening behind the shade works pretty well

 

[awoodman]

I have the single cell shades but without any track down the sides. That might be a realy good idea.
But when Lowes stoped stocking the inexpensive ones they sold I went with stupid miniblinds on some of the other rooms.

 

[Steve Z]

My house is 200+yrs old and has allot of the original windows. While they have storm windows on the outside, (some on the north side year round) I still use the plastic shrink wrap stuff on the inside. It actually works quite well as long as you make sure the two sided tape they provide is still holding all the way round.

 

[snowtime]

We have triple pane. Even the 4 -4'by6'. Being that we have great views and no neighbors we never close the shades. So I can safely say triple pane is the way to go.

 

[hankjrfan]

if it's just cold (20+) we're fine without doing anything. but if we get down into the bone chilling single digits or worse, negative numbers like last week, we put the thermal curtains up and start closing off non essential parts of the house.

 

[Todd]

New Window World double pane windows installed this year. It makes a difference. I use to put up that palstic stuff, no need now.

 

[Dix]

I replaced some 32 YO Andersons this year. Their time had come :kiss:

I replaced with HD type windows...what a differance !! I'm replacing the rest of the old windows this year.

 

[Jimxj2000]

Not an simple fix but if you are ever building new you could try an old idea - Indian shutters. Our house came with them for the first floor windows. At first they seemed to just add character to the house. Later we found they are great in winter for warmth and nice in the summer for privacy. If I ever had to build new I would include something similar.

We have best of the early 1980's single pane windows, with very leaky aluminum storm windows. Closing the shutters adds at least 5F to the room temperature. They are also great for privacy, better than screens for blocking sun light - great for the home theater experience, and good at stopping the stray arrow if needed.

I did look into the history of "Indian Shutters". I couldn't tell if they were build for protection or just for warmth.

This is the first picture I have attached - I hope it worked.

 

[bsimon]

JimJ- your post piqued my interest. Here's an explanation:

http://www.maple-grove.com/interior_raised.htm

One of which is exactly what you're using them for - heat retention. Sometimes the old tech is good tech.

 

[gibson]

Every year, when winter comes, I shut my windows. What a difference!

 

[awoodman]

JimJ- your post piqued my interest. Here’s an explanation:

http://www.maple-grove.com/interior_raised.htm

One of which is exactly what you’re using them for - heat retention. Sometimes the old tech is good tech.

FOAM CORE BI-FOLD WOOD FACED SHUTTERS :lol:

 

[raybonz]

I have 18 double hung Andersen 400 series approx. overall dimensions of 3'x5' and I just keep em closed and latched Even the best windows are a lousy as insulators..

Ray

 

[iceman]

i have new windows, double pane ... friend of mine told me he did the window kits and it has made a huge diff i did my upstairs where it is furthest from my stove and yes it does make a diff.. next i will def do my entire house as i have huge and many windows ... so i suggest the same to everyone else... wait till feb but the window kits on clearance and buy enough for 2 yrs

 

[DBoon]

A few years ago I lived in a condominium with very old and cold metal frame windows. There was a good recess to accomodate a thick insulating panel. I bought some 1" thick foam insulation (R value = 6), cut it to size, build a wood frame on one side using some old 2-1/2" wide trim and fastened the frame to the foam board using screws into wood frame with a fender washer to hold the foam on. Then, I covered them with some off-price upholstery fabric I got at a fabric store. They looked good, and made a huge difference in heating and also made it possible to sit near a window at night without feeling too cold. The wife liked them, for sure.

For windows that were more than the 2' width of the foam board, I would orient the foam board horizontally (hence the need for a wood frame). I even built some of these to slip into the non-sliding section of a sliding glass door. Again, made a huge difference in comfort.

Downsides is that there is definitely some smoke/gas issues with these in the event of a fire. Also, it does take time in the evening to put them in and then take them out in the morning. If the window gets sun during the day, you wouldn't want to leave them in.

 

[Stevebass4]

try these

(broken link removed)

 

[trailblaster]

We cover the windy side windows in our 9yr old house with those 3M window sheets. The windows still radiate a little cold when we had the -22 days earlier this week.

 

[vgrund]

Cellular blinds: single and triple depending on the window. They are profoundly effective. The only downside is condensation on the window is sometimes a problem.

 

[begreen]

Moved to green room. There are several thread here on reducing window heat loss.

 

[kenny chaos]

Our walls are 18" thick and I have thought of placing a bale of straw on the windowsill of each.

 

[burnham]

The reason I bought my Mansfield was the 22 lousy old aluminum framed windows in my house, and the four sky lights. When it gets really cold, I bring in extra wood. Some day, when I have an extra $7-8k floating around in the account I'll......no I won't, nevermind.

 

[precaud]

In winter, I have 2" styrofoam panels in almost every window of the house. The south ones come off while the sun is up, the west ones come off from about noon till sundown, and east ones stay on all the time. Makes a HUGE difference.

 

[ericjeeper]

Ok here we go again.
Triple with Krypton will give you an R-10 Triple with Argon will give you an R-7
I am strongly against using raw foam board of any sort on the interior of my home.. For several reasons..
Foremost it is cheesy looking.Secondly it is flammable as all get out.Nasty deadly toxic fumes will come from
it in the presence of a house fire..Polyvinyl chloride......... Not the way I want to lose anyone in my household.
For all the answers to your window questions go to nfrc.org
This is the governments page not any particular brand.
I have 3 different brands of windows in my home. some with double pane lo-e and argon, some with triple with argon.Some with triple with krypton.
The triple with krypton are generally 6-7 degrees warmer on the interior glass surface taken at night with my infrared temp gun.
the temps are usually about 8 degrees less than room temp.
High quality windows are not a gimmick.. They are an investment into saving fuel, and increasing the value in your home.