Bubble Wrap Window Insulation

[ThePrudentNinja]

Originally Posted by redneck

Bingo...

I have several windows that are left covered year round and have been very pleased with the results.

Bubble wrap has little effect on sunlight entering the room. It allows radiant heat gain while simultaneously reducing conductive heat transfer. That's a win, win, win, in my book.

Each layer of bubble wrap is roughly equal to having another pane of glass. Multiple layers are easy to do if needed.

Also.

Be sure to caulk all cracks around the windows to reduce drafts.



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Once it gets colder might give it a shot and see how it goes. Got enough bubble wrap to ship a car (if USPS would accept it and bubble wrap would even be useful lol). Right now the south side windows are already pretty well covered and my cooling strategy means it doesn't "really" matter if they are covered right now or not as there is multiple whole house air exchanges with the outside air a day.

[redneck]

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It's that time of year again.



Time to put up that bubble wrap.




And remember... Be careful out there...







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[user removed]

Happy new year, don't shoot yer eye out, LOL.

regards
mech

[Magician]

I used that silver reflective bubble wrap to block out sun on my 2nd floor to help cool my house... done as an experiment. Holy Moly it made a huge difference. It was colder on my 2nd floor than on the first floor by about 10 degrees. That's proof in the pudding. At first my wife hated it, but then it grew on her once she really experienced the positive effects for a while. I then put that in the 1st floor windows as well the following Summer. Incredible how much less often my AC was running and how cool the house was. Now my tree on the West side is getting larger and helping as well.

[freebeard]

What I've found is bubble-wrap after about five years adheres to the glass and degrades. Then you can't clean it off. What I've gone to is pieces of 'clear coroplast' greenhouse glazing, cut to press fit inside the windows.

The unexpected benefit is that the horizontal flutes reflect light up to the ceiling and brighten the room.

[slowmover]

That unexpected benefit sounds great! Thx

[redneck]

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It’s that time again...






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[slowmover]

I removed the largest REFLECTIX panel the other day to install a thru glass MIDLAND antenna for same brand weather radio (and this week received same brand antenna & design for restoring the “campground radio” CB), and found the panel was now past its useful life.

The trailer has not ever been out of hot Texas summers. The window covers did survive six summers both in and out of direct sunlight.

Given the cost of doing all those windows with one $50 4’ tall roll of REFLECTIX, I got my money’s worth and then some.

The second go-round will be easier as I can use the originals as templates. May even use spare material and double up on some of them (ribs in between with open spacing & sealed edges). I also need to use it in a few interior spaces.

I’ve been using the same approach (cut to press fit) in the tractor-trailers I run. It’s an enormous difference.

I’ll have to try the clear bubble wrap on a pair of the three windows I allow light to traverse.

Granted, I’ve meant to build a complete set of interior storm windows, but that DIY will have to wait awhile longer.

Thanks for waking up the thread.

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[redneck]

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It's that time of year again.



Time to put up that bubble wrap.




And remember... Be careful out there...







>

[redneck]

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Just a little reminder…




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