Plastic On Windows: Energy Efficiency And Cost Savings

Plastic window film is an inexpensive way to reduce drafts and make your home feel warmer during the winter months. It can also reduce moisture buildup on the window due to condensation and eliminate air leaks around the window. Adding a single layer of window film can reduce heat loss through the window by 33% for double-glazed windows and 50% for single-glazed windows. However, leaving the plastic on in the summer won't make much difference, but it also won't cause any harm.

Plastic on windows can reduce drafts

Window film covers are a good DIY project, as they are easy to apply and kits are available in several sizes at home improvement, hardware, and discount stores. The plastic film comes in window-sized pieces in the kits; purchase a kit that fits the width of your window.

Adding a single layer of window film to every window in a house with double-pane windows will result in a 33% reduction in heat loss for the windows only, or about 14% on the whole house. If the house has single-pane windows, then window film results in a 50% saving for windows only, and a whole-house saving of 29%.

Leaving the plastic on in the summer won't help much, but it won't hurt either, as long as the windows aren't being used for ventilation.

It can make your house feel warmer in winter

Plastic window film covers are inexpensive, reduce drafts, and help the house feel warmer during winter months. They can also reduce moisture buildup on the window due to condensation and eliminate air leaks around the window if they extend over the woodwork. This extra layer of plastic adds another layer of insulating air to reduce heat loss through the window.

For example, adding a single layer of window film to every window in a house with double-pane windows would take the windows from R2.0 to R3.0, for a 33% reduction in heat loss for the windows only, or about 14% on the whole house. If the house has single-pane windows, then window film takes the single pane window from R0.9 to R2.0, for a 50% saving for windows only, and a whole house saving of 29%.

Window film covers are a good option if you prefer simpler home improvement projects, as kits are available in several sizes at home improvement, hardware, and discount stores. The plastic film comes in window-sized pieces in the kits; purchase a kit that fits the width of your window.

It can reduce moisture buildup on the window

Plastic on windows can help reduce moisture buildup on the window due to condensation. Window film covers are inexpensive and can also reduce drafts, making the house feel warmer during winter. They can also eliminate air leaks around the window if they extend over the woodwork, adding another layer of insulating air to reduce heat loss.

Window film covers are a good DIY project, as they are simple to apply and kits are available in several sizes at home improvement, hardware, and discount stores. The plastic film comes in window-sized pieces in the kits; purchase a kit that fits the width of your window.

Adding a single layer of window film to every window in a house with double-pane windows would result in a 33% reduction in heat loss for the windows only, or about 14% for the whole house. If the house has single-pane windows, the window film takes the single pane window from R0.9 to R2.0, for a 50% saving for windows only, and a whole-house saving of 29%.

Leaving the plastic on in the summer won't help much, but it won't hurt either, as long as the windows aren't being used for ventilation.

It can eliminate air leaks around the window

Window film covers are inexpensive and can help to reduce drafts, making your house feel warmer in winter. They can also eliminate air leaks around the window if they extend over the woodwork. This extra layer of plastic adds another layer of insulating air to reduce heat loss through the window.

If you have double-pane windows, adding a single layer of window film can reduce heat loss by 33% for the windows only, or about 14% for the whole house. If you have single-pane windows, window film can increase the insulation from R0.9 to R2.0, resulting in a 50% saving for windows only and a 29% saving for the whole house.

It's worth noting that leaving the plastic on in the summer won't significantly impact your energy efficiency, but it won't hurt either.

It can reduce heat loss through the window

Window film covers are inexpensive and can help to reduce drafts, making your house feel warmer in the winter and reducing moisture buildup on the window due to condensation. They can also eliminate air leaks around the window if they extend over the woodwork. This extra layer of plastic adds another layer of insulating air to reduce heat loss through the window.

The effectiveness of the plastic film depends on the type of windows you have. Adding a single layer of window film to every window in a house with double-pane windows will take the windows from R2.0 to R3.0, resulting in a 33% reduction in heat loss for the windows only, or about 14% for the whole house. If the house has single-pane windows and 4" stud walls, the window film will take the single-pane window from R0.9 to R2.0, resulting in a 50% saving for windows only, and a whole-house saving of 29%.

It's worth noting that leaving the plastic on in the summer won't make a significant difference in terms of heat loss, but it also won't cause any harm.

Frequently asked questions