Solar Window Heater

[Christ]

Hey, you might be able to get some glass panes free if there are any contstruction sites near you... or just keep an eye out once in awhile, you'll see where people have replaced their windows, and the old ones are out for free.

I've picked up a few sliding glass doors in my time, as well.

[Christ]

Originally Posted by FastPlastic

From what I understand the biggest improvement you can get is to go outside the window. Something similar to what's pictured below. Don't know if you window would be in a location you could make one of these or not.

I really like this design.. it can be deployed at a moment's notice, and brought back in without even trying.

A nice thing about natural convection is that there is a purpose to leaving storm windows installed on the sunny side during the summer. Instead of opening your windows to let air in when it's hot indoors, open the window only a little bit, then go outside and open the upper section of the storm window just a few inches. The natural convection will draw the warm air out of your house, and you can open a shaded window to draw cooler air back in!

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by order99

I'll have a Window heater of my own in a few weeks, but it's going to look a bit more like this:

Make: Online : Soda can solar panel

If you ever find the trick of cutting the tops & bottoms of the cans, please let me know. I've tried various hole saws & cutters, but they all snag, and bend the thin aluminium of the can walls.

[Bicycle Bob]

Utility knives or small, good-quality scissors work.

[jamesqf]

That's so slow, and hard to do neatly. I was hoping for some sort of cutter that I could just stick in the drill press.

[MadisonMPG]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

That's so slow, and hard to do neatly. I was hoping for some sort of cutter that I could just stick in the drill press.

Lazy.

What you can do is take a large punch and poke what looks like an entry wound from a large caliber bullet in the bottom. that will let the air float up, but it will slow it down, giving you hotter temps.

[Christ]

If you've got a dremel, you can use that for the tops, you just grind off the "lip" of the can all the way around. Actually, any grinder will do it. Then grab the mouth of the can with a pliers, and pull vigorously.

For the bottom, a belt sander. Sit the ridge on the belt sander until it cuts through, and you just lift the can afterward. Again, a grinder would work as well.

If you want to use a hole saw, you need to use a very low speed drill and very little pressure.

[mimosa]

I suggest you to get the bamboo shades installed at your home it give you relief from harsh sunlight and winter's cold. Try it, it's great.