Shrink film window insulation kits?

[brentspeak]

Is the plastic film supposed to coat the window glass itself like a skin, or is the plastic film supposed to shrink to tautness around the window frame, so that there's 2-3 inches space between the plane of the glass and the plane of the plastic film?

[LeftyFingerPop]

1. Probably leave a space between the window and the film...

If I am picturing this correctly. Is it the kind where you heat it with a blow dryer so it stretches tight?

[brentspeak]

2. yes

[LeftyFingerPop]

4. You want to have some air trapped betwwen the window and the film. Also...

be careful not to burn a hole through the film with the dryer. You want to hold it close enough to heat and shrink it, but keep it moving slightly so it won't burn through.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Yes. You tape the film to the window frame and then shrink it tight

with a hair dryer. There will be a couple of inches of space between the window and the film. It actually works pretty well if you don't have cats.

[whistler162]

5. Everything works pretty well if you don't have cats!

Actually just a sheet of plastic covering the screen, if you have a screen on the window, works well.

[quakerboy]

6. Air space as an insulation.

They do have window films that go on the window, but thats more oriented towards light effects. I use one that makes the window cloudy up to about shoulder height. I am looking for a decent self installable blackout film kit, I like absolute black at bedtime, but so far I cannot find it.

My aunt just put up her shrink wrap kit. That is different, it has 2 effects, to prevent any minor airflow that may come through your windowframe, and to create a stationary pocket of air between you and the outside cold to act as an insulator

[leftyclimber]

7. What ocelot said.

We can't get through a winter without the stuff; our windows leak like crazy. Even after doing one window (we only have 2 in our apartment) the difference is amazing.

If you haven't already put the stuff up, you might want to wipe down your window frame before you put on the tape. It sticks better that way.

Now if someone could tell me how to keep the cat from scratching a hole through it so we don't end up with a 23-layer thick patch in one corner by spring, I would be eternally grateful. :D

[harmonicon]

8. around the frame

that's how it works.

[brentspeak]

9. Semi-success

After screwing up with my first attempt and destroying 1 out of 3 shrink sheets, I managed to successfully apply the shrink-film to 2 windows. It's easy to mis-measure the size needed for a window (i.e., cutting a section of shrink that turns out to be too small by a cm), while it's hard to separate the two-sided tape.

[KitchenWitch]

10. it is supposed to attach to the window frame, not the window.

[Dangerously Amused]

11. It attaches to the window frame according to the instructions of the kind I use, BUT...

...a construction guy told me that if I wanted it to work even better (since I have an older house), to attach it to the wall around the window frame, to eliminate even drafts from the spaces between the woodwork of the frame. I did that and it worked pretty well, but when I took it down again the tape lifted some paint. :/

So now I am not sure if that is more a problem with the tape or the paint.

Just another option for you. I am a big fan of knowing all the options.

Good luck.

[applegrove]

12. Leave space between the window and the film. Hairdry the film till it is taunt.

Really works. Thank gosh I don't have to do it anymore.

[billyskank]

13. mcctatas' son is expert on insulation.

You should ask him.