How To Insulate Your Windows With Plastic

  • November 26, 2008
  • 27,019 Views
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This winter, keep heat in and cold out by sealing your windows with plastic.

You Will Need

  • A blow-dryer
  • Plastic wrap
  • Double-sided tape
  • Dry-cleaning bags
  • Bubble Wrap

Plastic can be dangerous. To avoid danger of suffocation, handle with care and keep away from babies and children.

How To Insulate Your Windows With Plastic: Get an insulation kit

Step 1: Get an insulation kit

Go to your local hardware store and get an indoor window insulation kit. It will provide double-sided tape and sheets of shrink-wrap plastic that, when affixed to your windows according to the accompanying instructions, provide a weather seal you can see through.

If you don’t care about visibility and appearance, plastic dry-cleaning bags and duct tape will do the trick; just slit the bags open, cut them to size, and tape them over the windows.

How To Insulate Your Windows With Plastic: Wash your windows

Step 2: Wash your windows

Wash and dry your windows. The plastic wrap won’t cling as well to a dirty surface.

How To Insulate Your Windows With Plastic: Take measurements

Step 3: Take measurements

Measure your window frames, and then measure and cut the plastic to match, leaving a little wiggle room. You can always trim later with an Exacto knife.

How To Insulate Your Windows With Plastic: Tape around the windows

Step 4: Tape around the windows

Press double-sided tape on the outside edge of the molding. Take care not to stick the tape to the wall.

How To Insulate Your Windows With Plastic: Attach the plastic

Step 5: Attach the plastic

Firmly attach the edges of the plastic sheet to the tape, smoothing the sheet down as you go. Then run a hot blow-dryer back and forth over the plastic sheet so that the heat shrinks it, forming a tighter seal.

Leave one window in each room unwrapped as a fire escape.

How To Insulate Your Windows With Plastic: Slap on Bubble Wrap

Step 6: Slap on Bubble Wrap

For an even easier insulator, try Bubble Wrap: Just mist your windows with water and slap it on; it will stick until you take it off.

Drafty windows can increase your heating bill by 30 percent.

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Comments (5)

herizondetails

wow the bubble wrap idea sounds pretty cool - i will give that one a try 1st and smart thinking to suggest to leave one window unwrapped as a fire escape

over 3 years ago by herizondetails

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Lydie_Baillie

Cool idea...hahaha. I'm going to try it.

over 3 years ago by Lydie_Baillie

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fedmich

Cool idea. I'll show this to my sister who is in canda

over 3 years ago by fedmich

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Mitchdcba_Fskhfsfhf

I have a question. I live in a double wide Mobile Home that was built in 1996, it has windows with a storm windows, all one piece. http://www.303windows.com/amerimax-windows.php

about 1 year ago by Mitchdcba_Fskhfsfhf

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Mitchdcba_Fskhfsfhf

<;a href=";http://www.303windows.com/amerimax-windows.php";>;amerimax windows<;/a>;

about 1 year ago by Mitchdcba_Fskhfsfhf

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