Heat shrink film for covering windows

Any comments on the heat shrink window film kits like the one described here? I'm thinking of installing them on a few windows this winter, for the first time...

it works.
use to own a house that was 15 years old. the windows needed replacing and that was a cheap alternative for the winter. the house was 2300 sq. feet. we put that stuff on every window and ended up lowering the thermostat. very efficient.

Works well and it will keep the cold out as long as you keep it sealed, the unfortunate part is that is also keeps all the fresh air out too. In undergrad we used this to seal up all the big leaky windows, but with a couple of smokers we soon decided it was better to have one or teo windows that could be opened - eve if we were a bit cold. A good hair dryer should be enough, but a heat gun would be better.

Originally posted by skuntbehavior@Dec 1 2003, 11:35 PM
it works.
use to own a house that was 15 years old. the windows needed replacing and that was a cheap alternative for the winter. the house was 2300 sq. feet. we put that stuff on every window and ended up lowering the thermostat. very efficient.

I second this. Works like a charm and really easy to install.

very easy to use and no mess no fuss [good bonding exercise for with the wife/gf, husband/bf, bf/bf, gf/gf...you get the idea]. CT sells packages of precut sheets so it can`t get any easier.

they work really well , you'll really notice a difference. worth the money if you ask me.

Yeah, I use it every winter and they make an excellent seal. Try to leave a window or two uncovered though for ventilation.

Pets can be a problem though as they'll claw it. The cheaper films (CT for one) can tear easier when installing.

I just use a good hair dryer and work from the middle out.

I put this on some skylights and it got brittle and broke after a few years.

Don't go too nuts with the heating or you'll ruin your sheet & have to start over again.

Okay, so I bought a $4 installation kit from Canadian Tire, and it seems to work well...but it only covered one relatively small window. That would get pretty expensive, if I want to do that every year throughout the house. (Unfortunately, the builder couldn't get Low-e Argon windows in the right size when we were choosing upgrades for the house...)

Where can I find a good deal on the heat shrink stuff in bulk?

I think the plan is to put it up and leave it up for a few years

my wife just picked up some of the Lepage Roll-on window insulator kit stuff. going to check it out right now.
will report.

Originally posted by itsmypostoffice@Dec 1 2003, 10:04 PM
very easy to use and no mess no fuss [good bonding exercise for with the wife/gf, husband/bf, bf/bf, gf/gf...you get the idea]. CT sells packages of precut sheets so it can`t get any easier.

So you wrap this around them or what?

I used it... didn't see much of an improvement with heating costs, or keeping drafts out of the room.

Best thing about it though was that our windows had a problem with icing up during the winter. This stuff kept them ice free, and saved the window casings from rotting!

I never understood why we have to use a heatgun to make the poly sheets stick? My first experience with it failed misereably. Can't I use mounting tape on the metal rim of the windows? makes for something tighter I would say. 5m mounting tape is a buck at dollarama, thick (1mm) poly sheets can be bought at home depot in a large roll enough for the whole house, maybe even two winters. (not in the paint section, but the CGC/lumber section). Comes out much cheaper than buying them kits, and fo rthose who have space to save the sheets, it can be resused next winter since you didn't use a heatgun.

one downside, that tape is super sticky and tends to take off paint when you remove it in the spring!