bubbles to fight winter cold

[GeeMac]

Thank you to whomever posted the idea about using bubble wrap on the windows. I bought a roll of the stuff ($26.00). I then custom cut it into pieces to fit my windows. All you have to do is wet the window and it sticks in place. I added some scotch tape for my own re-assurance.  The Bubble wrap provides a dead air space and the material is warm to the touch on the room side. The warm side is a big plus because it prevents the cooling of the room air as it circulates past the window glass. After installation there is a noticeable extention of the time between furnace firings, which means a smaller gas bill. For that alone, I am grateful.

[spinningmagnets]

I think I may have been one of the accused posters...but credit must go to the efforts of Gary and his "builditsolar" site. There is a months worth of reading there, everything from the wacky to the mainstream (researched by old hippies, real engineers, and universities)

It actually doesn't really look TOO wacky in the pics, especially if you only need it a few months in the winter...(and its hard to argue with the price)

http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Conservation/bubblewrap.htm

[jonas302]

I prefer the shinkwrap plastic as it seals all the drafts to altough the tape does leave a residue maybe the bubble wrap can go underneath for super insulation I need everybit(:

[ghurd]

Sam's Club has the cheapest bubble wrap I could find.

Scotch brand 'Cushion Wrap', 12" x 175', $15 (8.5 cents a foot), but it has been a while.

Bubbles toward the glass, right?

When my wife says "WTF!", you should realize I will be blaming it on you.

G-

[GeeMac]

I love wacky. That's where invention is found.  )

[GeeMac]

Yes. The shrink material is good, but I have found the bubble wrap to be a better performer, although it is a bit on the ugly side.

[GeeMac]

Blame me? I don't mind at all, but you might want to point out that you and she will not have to wash any windows all winter. BTW - The flat side goes toward the window and bubbles toward the room. Spray a little water on the window first and slide the material into place.

[Darren73]

The instructions say bubbles towards the glass smooth side toward the room.

[richhagen]

Intuitively I would think that the bubbles towards the glass, and the flat side towards the interior of the room would give better results because you not only get the dead pockets of air from the bubbles, but the dead pockets of air between the glass and the plastic.  Good luck with it.  Rich

[GeeMac]

By golly! You're right. I'll flip them over today and find out what it does for me.