Ways to minimise heat loss through windows?

exis

I've just moved into a new flat which is pretty great. Nice large room with plenty of tall-ish windows facing in the right direction to give me a lot of natural light. The flip-side of this is that I have a fairly large amount of window coverage, and these are fairly old (and not double-glazed), so even with the windows sealed up shut the heat loss is noticeable when it's cold out. It doesn't help that I have blinds but no curtains (here's a pic of one side of the room).

With winter coming on this has me thinking about what I can do to keep some heat in. While I will pick up a heater at some point, I'd rather try and minimise heating costs by making some sort of effort to keep things moderately insulated.

My girlfriend suggested moving my bed (it currently has windows at it's head and down one side) to the other side of the room so that my head is away from the window, which I might do once I plan out the room a bit better. There isn't a curtain rail, but there are some attachments which are used to hold the blinds up, so I was thinking about getting a couple of old blankets and tying them up, but I don't really know how much that would help. The flip-side of anything like that being that I do want to make the most of any sunlight I can get, so blocking out the window isn't super appealing.

So yeah, thoughts? Any tips for heat loss reduction would be great.

iRevert

What is your budget?
Any tools available to you?
Know how to sew?

You could pickup some curtain rods and attach them and then toss together some curtains with a thermal backing, or just buy pre-made ones or hang blankets .

I'd also check the caulking around the windows to see if its shit or not and touch it up if its cracked and drafting.

Foomy

You want some window insulation plastic, like this: http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/WindowInsulatorKits/Products/

should be available at whatever local hardware type store you have around, sold by many other companies than 3M, but the kit they make is nice and easy.

It's basically just clear plastic that shrinks a bit when heated, you attach it to the window frame with a bit of tape, and then use a blow dryer to heat it until it's wrinkle free, after that you barely notice it's there. And when it warms up again, you just rip it off.

That plus sealing any air gaps with a bit of caulk is pretty much all you need to do to help with heat loss from windows in winter.

exis

Thanks for the responses, guys.

Budget is extremely low for now (living on fumes until my first pay cheque arrives). Can't sew and don't have any tools :P. That said I think I could fashion something to hold blankets up if necessary. I'll look into the insulation plastic stuff. If it's worth it but out of my price range then I might hold off and pick some up once I can afford it. It's not too cold for now so I can bear to wait if need be.

I'll take a look at caulking stuff too. I think this place is a refurbished industrial building, because one set of windows in here are quite noticeably older. After taking a closer look there's no sort of sealant in between the frame and the window, so that might make a difference.

Donovan Puppyfucker

Yeah if you're operating on a shoestring budget, pegging up an old quilt may be the way to go for now.

iRevert

exis wrote: »

Thanks for the responses, guys.

Budget is extremely low for now (living on fumes until my first pay cheque arrives). Can't sew and don't have any tools :P. That said I think I could fashion something to hold blankets up if necessary. I'll look into the insulation plastic stuff. If it's worth it but out of my price range then I might hold off and pick some up once I can afford it. It's not too cold for now so I can bear to wait if need be.

I'll take a look at caulking stuff too. I think this place is a refurbished industrial building, because one set of windows in here are quite noticeably older. After taking a closer look there's no sort of sealant in between the frame and the window, so that might make a difference.

It costs around $10 for a 3 window kit usually and you need a hair dryer to stretch it out, keep in mind it will help but stringing up a quilt or blanket will offer additional help.

Oh and take this as a chance to begin acquiring some basic tools in this case a tape measure, pair of screwdrivers, and a hammer. Over time you can add to those tools as you require new tools for different jobs and build up a nice set.

EDIT:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Insulating-Windows-Transparent-Metre-Maximum/dp/B0038JE7X6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365329214&sr=8-1&keywords=window+insulation+film

You can head to any big box store or hardware store and pick them up so it isn't a hard to find item.

LewieP's Mummy

I've used the plastic film stuff in my old, once very draughty house. It works really well as a cheap, temporary solution.

Another solution is to add an extra layer of glass to the window leaving an air space between the existing glass and the new. Its not difficult to do, all you need is the glass cut to size by a glazier, bits of wood cut to size by a wood shop, a screwdriver and some screws. You'd need 1/2"x1" wood, with a channel scribed out for the glass, making the wood L shaped in cross section - the wood shop can do it for you - then you screw a cut to size length onto the bottom of the existing frame, another along one vertical, then squirt sealant into the slot made by the wood shop,slide the glass in, then screw in the remaining vertical and lastly the top piece after you've squirted them with sealant, too.

It is really easy to do, as the wood shop does all the cutting for you!